USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 58
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In 1892 Mr. Worman assumed the manage- ment of the Academy of Music of Allentown, and continued in charge until it was destroyed by fire. In 1899 he became the manager of the Lyric Theatre, and as such has done much to raise the standard of amusements of the city and present to the public a most delightful series of entertainments. He has been the means of se- curing many of the leading theatrical companies
of the country to produce their plays in Allen- town, and thus the residents of this borough en- joy theatrical attraction usually seen only in the. largest cities. When he assumed control of the. Lyric he sold his printing business in order to devote his entire time to the amusement enter- prise, which his able management has made a successful one. Mr. Worman was also the or- ganizer and is the president of the Allentown Bill Posting Company, which has between four and five thousand feet of boards which are well located and are now all in use.
While his business affairs have been of a char- acter to benefit Allentown, in matters which result. in no pecuniary advantage to himself he has also taken a deep interest, and his cooperation has been. a valued factor in the promotion of many enter- prises which have resulted beneficially to the borough. He is likewise a local leader in poli- cal circles, gives his allegiance and support to the Democracy and upon its ticket was elected in 1887 to the office of alderman from the fourth ward. He served for three years, and then re- signed in order to accept the position of clerk of the court of quarter sessions, to which he was elected in 1890, and in which capacity he served for three years. Fraternally, he is connected with the Order of Eagles, and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church.
Mr. Worman has been twice married. His first wife, Mary Person, was a daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Keck) Person, the latter a daugh- ter of Mrs. Magdalene Keck. Mr. and Mrs. Per- son have seven children. Sarah became the wite of Charles Runyon, and had three children- Martha, wife of Dr. A. J. Bittner; Robert; and Mary was the second of the family. Emma is the wife of F. D. Bitner. Warren and Paul are unmarried. Milton J. married Miss Carter, by whom he had a daughter, Helen, and his second wife was Miss Shimer. William mar- ried Annie Snyder, a daughter of John Snyder and their children are John and Frank Person. Mr. and Mrs. Worman had but one child, Ger- trude E. For his second wife Mr. Worman chose Sarah B. Snyder, daughter of Nathan and Sarah
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
(Horn) Snyder, the latter a daughter of Samuel Horn. There were four children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder; Mrs. Sarah B. Worman; Dallas, Jacob, and George, deceased.
DOUGLASS AND POST GENEALOGY- Benjamin Douglass was born in Edinburgh, Scot- land, in 1770, a son of Benjamin Douglass, who came to America in 1772. Benjamin Douglass, the first beforenamed, married Deborah Post. The Post family traces its descent from Dutch ancestors of great prominence. In 980, A. D., Herren Van Post took an active part in an at- tack upon Nettleberg, a city of Germany. Adolph Post was in 1030 a member of the Reichstag of Minden, and Heinrich Post is named in a deed in 1275. From the last named was descended Goosen Fost, who in 1376 held an honorable position in Gelderland, in the Netherlands. His wife was Jantje Van Zul, a daughter of Peter Van Zul and Jane Rapelje. Peter, one of their two sons, was a landholder at Elsfat in 1399. By his mar- riage with Annatie, daughter of George Suydam and Else Meyers, he had three sons, of whom the eldest, Peter Arnold, married Marragridje, daughter of Jan Bogart, and their son Panwel married Sarah, daughter of Abraham Van Gelder, an iron founder of Owdenarde. Arthur, son of the last named pair, born August 26, 1580, went to Maidstone, Kent, England, where he married, February 2, 1614, Bennet, daughter of Richard Lambe, and the first-born of this marriage was Richard, born February 4, 1617. In his will, June 19, 1644, Arthur Post devises to his wife Margaret, all his lands and tenements in Eastling, "formerly in possession of my eldest son, Rich- ard, being now of England or some parts beyond the sea."
The Richard Post last named is undoubtedly the same person who came to Norwich, Connecti- cut, whence he removed to Southampton, Long Island, where he received a grant of land in 1643. He is very frequently mentioned as Lieutenant Richard Post, and he held the office of constable, which was then one of great importance. In 1659 he was one of a committee "To regulate the town papers and writings, and also to revise the town
laws." He held a fioo proprietor right under which he owned a large amount of land, and. he and his son John owned a full share in the pur- chase of the western part of the town. Richard Post's home lot was in the center of the village of Southampton. He married Dorothy . (maiden name supposed to have been Johnson), and their children were John, Thomas, Joseph, and Mar- tha. Lieutenant Richard Post died about 1689.
Lieutenant Richard Post's eldest son, Captain John Post, was the lineal ancestor of John Post, born in 1740, in New York city, who lived in Bowling Green, and died in Pearl street. During the Revolutionary war he was a beef and pork packer. Others of the family and of his descend- ants were prominent in public and commercial affairs. His children were Peter, John, Deborah, and Catherine, both of whom are further named below.
Deborah Post became the wife of Benjamin Douglass and their daughter Eliosa, by her mar- riage with Daniel L. Bixler, became the mother of Floyd S. Bixler.
Catherine Post became the wife of Peter Ritter, and their daughter Catherine became the wife of Floyd Smith. Floyd Smith was one of the most prominent vestrymen of St. George's (Protestant Episcopal) church, in New York city, and nearly all the Smith, Post and Ritter burials were made in the grounds of that church. A daughter of Floyd Smith became the wife of George Shea, Marine Court Judge. The Post and Ritter families were among the most widely and favorably known of their day. Washington Ritter, son of Peter Ritter, was an accomplished physi- cian. His granddaughter became the wife of William Appleton, of Fordham Heights.
HOWARD F. HOFFMEIER, M. D., an eminent and skillful medical practitioner of Mauch Chunk, Carbon county, Pennsylvania, is a native son of that state, born in Easton, Decem- ber 1, 1874.
Dr. Hoffmeier is a descendant of a German lineage. He traces his ancestry to the Rev. John H. Hoffmeier, the only son of Jacob Lebrecht Hoff- meier and Joanna Elizabeth Kopp, who was born
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GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
at Aubalt Cathen, Germany, March 17, 1760. Prior to his sailing for America he was united in marriage to Gertrude Von-Asen, who was born at Bremen, Germany, and after their arrival in the city of Philadelphia in 1793 they proceeded to Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Upper Saucon. Afterward they removed to Hellertown, same county, and in 1806 they lo- cated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he be- came pastor of the German Reformed church, and for upward of a quarter of a century he preached the gospel and labored faithfully in that field. His death occurred in the year 1838. Eight children were born of this marriage, as follows : Elizabeth, born August, 1794, died November 26, 1796; Maria, born in March, 1796; Susanna, born December 18, 1797, died July 28, 1801; Magdalena, born April 13, 1799; Charles F., born September, 1803; Jacob L., born Novem- ber 4, 1805; Henrietta, born June 20, 1807; and John W., born February 7, 1808.
Jacob L. Hoffmeier, grandfather of Dr. How- ard F. Hoffmeier, was born in Hellertown, North Northampton county, Pennsylvania, November 4, 1805. During his early life he learned the trade of saddle maker, and pursued this occupa- tion with a fair degree of success throughout his entire business career. For the long period of forty years he served in the capacity of clerk in the Lancaster county prison, discharging the du- ties in a highly creditable manner. His political connections were with the Whig and Republican parties, and he held membership in St. Paul's Reformed church, in which body he served as elder for almost forty years. He married Eliza Miller, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, born in 1804, and their children were: George; Cath- erine, who became the wife of the Rev. J. J. Hamilton, Blair county, Pennsylvania ; Amos K., who was a coach trimmer by trade, but for many years prior to his death in 1902 was a furniture merchant in the city of Lancaster; William M., a resident of Lancaster, also in the furniture business ; Samuel B., mentioned hereinafter ; and Elizabeth, who was the wife of the late John I. Hartman, of Lancaster, who was a wholesale grocer, and served as president of the Lancaster
Trust Company. Jacob L. Hoffmeier, father of these children, died in the city of Lancaster, Penn- sylvania, in 1890, survived by his wife, who passed away in 1891.
Samuel B. Hoffmeier, father of Dr. Howard F. Hoffmeier, was born in Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania, July 9, 1842. He was reared in his native town and obtained a practical education in its common schools. At the age of sixteen he began to study the (then new) art of photography, and in 1862 he went to Philadelphia and engaged in the photograph business, which he followed suc- cessfully until 1895, twenty-nine years of which period were spent in the city of Easton in the same line of trade. On June 18, 1863, during the pro- gress of the Civil war, he displayed his patriotism by enlisting in Independent Battery I, Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, in which he served until Janu- ary 7, 1864. Mr. Hoffmeier is a charter member of St. Mark's Reformed church, having served as a member of the building committee of the same. He is affiliated with the following named orders: Columbia Council, No. 13, Order of United American Mechanics ; Lehighton Lodge, No. 244, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Valley Encampment, No. 138, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Lafayette Post, No. 217, Grand Army of the Republic ; and Star Council, No. 155, Royal Arcanum.
Samuel B. Hoffmeier was married March 14, 1869, to Sue Schlough, who was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Jacob C. and Sarah (Shull) Schlough, both of whom were natives of Easton, Pennsylvania. Jacob C. Schlough is of German parentage, and for thirty-five years was a member of the firm of the Eagle Foundry and Machine Company. Their children are: Wil- liam J., who is employed as an accountant in Easton, Pennsylvania, and also serves as assistant treasurer of a wholesale grocery company ; How- ard F., mentioned hereinafter ; Sadie B., unmar- ried, and M. Kate, also unmarried.
Dr. Howard F. Hoffmeier obtained an excel- lent English education in the public schools of his native city, Easton, from which he was grad- uated. He the engaged in the wholesale mer- cantile business, first in Easton and later in New
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York city. He then took up the drug business in Easton, becoming a skillful and expert pharma- cist, and subsequently, after a preliminary course with Dr. Isaac Ott of Easton, taking up the study of medicine at the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine in 1903. In addition to his studies at col- lege, he took a complete course in practical work at the Charity Lying-in-Hospital, Philadelphia. Dr. Hoffmeier was one of only two physicians to receive honorable mention when examined by the State Board of Medical Examiners of New Jer- sey. After graduation he spent a term as interne in the Easton Hospital, after which he located in Mauch Chunk, where he has built up a lucra- tive practice, making a specialty of surgical work. He is a thorough student of his profession and al- lows nothing to interfere with his practice. His office, which is one of the finest in the county, is thoroughly equipped with every modern ap- pliance for surgical work and includes electrical apparatus, X-rays, etc. Dr. Hoffmeier is re- garded by the older members of the medical pro- fession as a promising young physician, and has already secured a prominent place in their midst. He attended the services of the Reformed church, and his political affiliations are with the Repub- lican party.
WILLIAM D. SNYDER, of East Allen township, is of the third generation of a family that has contributed in an unobtrusive but sub- stantial way to the development of agriculture in Northampton county, Pennsylvania. William D. Snyder succeeded his father on the homestead, and has held his place as a highly regarded citi- zen and a practical and energetic farmer.
John Snyder, grandfather of William D. Sny- der, was a farmer of East Allen township, and there his son Jacob was born in 1787. Jacob learned the trade of hatter and followed it as a young man. Later he took up farm work on a farm which was on the site of the present bor- ough of Bath. In 1847 he purchased the old Wil- son homestead in the Irish settlement, where he lived until his death, and which is now the home
of his son William D. Snyder. He was well known in the township and held most of the local offices. He was also a prominent member of the Reformed church, and one of the prime movers. in the erection of the church at Bath in 1835, be- ing a member of the building committee. He was a Democrat, and followed the course of national politics with much interest. He married Susan, daughter of John Ahner, who bore him seven chil- dren, four sons and three daughters, namely : Aaron, John, Henry, William D., Susan, Eliza- beth, and another daughter that died in infancy. Jacob Snyder died in 1864 and his wife died in 1869.
William D., son of Jacob and Susan (Ahner) Snyder, was born in East Allen township, Decem- ber 27, 1835. His education in the common schools was extended by study in the Wolf Acad- emy. He had grown up in the life of the farm. and knew it thoroughly. He recognized its ad- vantages as an independent means of livelihood, and early determined to make farming his voca- tion. He has that feeling for the land tilled by his fathers which has in all times kept families on the same estate for generation after generation, and this led to his coming into possession of the homestead. Here he has passed his life and reared his own family. He has not, however, been absorbed in his own business affairs to the ex- clusion of other interests. He has always lent his influence and practical support to matters of local public welfare, and maintained an open mind for all new ideas. He served as school di- rector for six years, and is a believer in the ex- tension and improvement of popular education. His political sympathies are with the Demo- cratic party. He is a member of the Reformed church, and was a member of the building com- mittee at the time of the erection of the present church at Bath.
He was married December 16, 1861, to Sarah Seiple, born at Allentown, Lehigh county, Au- gust 3, 1837, a daughter of John and Susan (Bleam) Seiple. Mrs. Snyder's grandfather was Jacob Seiple of Mount Bethel, Northampton county, and her father was born in Lehigh county.
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Mr. and Mrs. Snyder became the, parents of the following children: Clara V., who married Fred A. Latshaw, of Ontario, Canada, and has two children, Lena Snyder, and Lizzie Irene; Lizzie A., who married Achenbach, and has, one child, Annie E .; Sally H., who married Frank P. Keim, and is the mother of one child, Lizzie Snyder ; Jacob D., who died at the age of twenty-nine.
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OLIVER,P. STECHER, who is engaged in farming and stock raising in Hanover township, Northampton county, belongs; to a family that has been identified with agricultural interests in this portion of the state for an entire century.
His paternal grandfather, John Stecher, fol- lowed the occupation of farming here, and was also a cabinet maker and undertaker. He be- longed to the Lutheran church, and gave his po- litical allegiance to the Whig party. His death occurred when he had reached a very advanced age. His son, John Stecher, the father of Oliver P. Stecher, was born in Palmer township, North- ampton county, on the old family homestead, in 1813, and received good educational privileges, studying in both German and English schools. He learned the tailor's trade in early life and fol- lowed that pursuit up to the time of his marriage. Afterward he engaged in general farming, and upon the old homestead reared his family. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party from the time of its organization until his death. He was a prominent member of the Forks church, and served in various official capacities in connection therewith. He was thrice married, and there were no children born of the first union. For his second wife he chose Sarah Lerch, and they became the parents of six children : John, Samuel, Charles, Mary, Matilda and Catherine. His third wife was Sallie Ann Miller, a daughter of Manassas Miller, of Mount Bethel township, Northampton county, and they have four chil- dren : Oliver P., James M., Susan and Ellen. The ten children were born and reared where the vil- lage of Tatamy now stands, the farm being the old Lerch homestead. The elder sons, John and Samuel, were gallant soldiers in the Union army
in the Civil war. John was a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, and was wounded at the first day's fight in the battle of Gettysburg, in July, 1864. Samuel was a member of a Michigan regiment, and was wounded while aiding to check one of Morgan's raids near Louisville, Kentucky.
Oliver P. Stecher was born in Palmer town- ship, Northampton county, July 30, 1852, and his education was obtained in the public schools at Stockertown, Pennsylvania. His training at farm labor was received from his father, whom he as- sisted in the cultivation and improvement of the old homestead until twenty-two years of age, after which he was engaged in huckstering for one year. He began farming on his own account on a tract of land in Forks township, where he remained for two years, and then removed to Hanover township, where he rented a large farm from Samuel Schortz. In 1901 ,he purchased the Dech homestead of sixty acres in Hanover town- ship, and is now carrying on general agricultural pursuits. He has also been extensively. engaged in dealing in live stock, and both branches of his business are proving profitable, returning to him a very gratifying income. He is an excellent judge of live stock, and therefore makes judicious pur- chases and profitable sales.
Mr. Stecher is a stanch Republican in his po- litical views, and is recognized as one of the act- ive local workers in behalf of the party. He has served as supervisor of Hanover township, North- ampton county, for a number of years, and through a long period has been a member of the Republican central committee in his district, his opinions carrying weight and influence in the local councils of the party organization. In the work of the Lutheran church he is also active, and his labors have been very effective for its growth. He is now serving as a deacon, and also as overseer of the Sunday school.
Mr. Stecher was married July 3, 1875, to Miss Hannah Butz, a daughter of Michael and Sarah Butz, of Monroe county, Pennsylvania. Six children have been born unto them: Edwin E., William A., Cora E., Alice P., Laura A., and
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
Sarah C. The two sons are engaged in merchan- dising in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. William married Sallie Balliard, and has one son, Harvey. Cora is the wife of William Colver, a merchant of Bethlehem, and has five children : Clinton, Ray- mond, Floyd, Eva and Willie. Alice Stecher is the wife of Titus Heckman, and has a daughter Helen, and a son Arlington. Edwin married Laura Lambert.
OLIVER D. STEINMETZ, a farmer of East Allen township, Northampton county, was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, June 3, 1846, and is descended in the maternal line from an old family of Holland. The Steinmetz family is of German lineage, and several generations have resided in Pennsylvania. George Steinmetz, the grand- ther of Oliver D. Steinmetz, was a farmer by oc- cupation, thus providing for his family. He be- longed to the Lutheran church and his political allegiance was given to the Whig party until the organization of the new Republican party. He married Christiana Leight, and they had eleven children : Samuel, Solomon, George, Aaron, Jo- seph, William, Christiana, May, Sarah, Lydia and Sophie.
Joseph Steinmetz, the father of Oliver D. Steinmetz, was born in Moore township, North- ampton county, November 29, 1821, and spent his boyhood days as a farmer lad who enjoys com- mon school privileges and assists in the operation of the home farm. After attaining his majority he removed to Rittersville, Lehigh county, and afterward to Bethlehem, where he managed ex- tensive landed interests belonging to the Mora- vian church. In 1854 he purchased the old George Snyder homestead in East Allen township, con- taining one hundred and thirty-six acres of land, and this he operated throughout his remaining days. He was married in 1842 to Miss Sarah A. Michel, whose grandfather, John Michel, came from Amsterdam, Holland, to America. His son David Michel, was born in Nazareth, Penn- sylvania, and wedded Catherine Patterson. They resided in Upper Nazareth township, Northamp- ton county, where their daughter, Mrs. Steinmetz,
was born. She is now the mother of three chil- dren: Edwin G., a practicing physician; Oliver D .; and Montana, who died in infancy. Mr. Steinmetz died November 9, 1893, and his wife, who was born November 26, 1824, is still living on the old family homestead. He served in a number of local positions in his township and was a trustee of the Lutheran church of Bath, Penn- sylvania.
Oliver D. Steinmetz was a pupil in the com- mon schools in his early boyhood, and afterward at Weaversville Academy. His education com- pleted, he settled on the old homestead and event- ually became its owner. Since that time he has devoted his energies continually to agricultural pursuits. He has been called upon to fill a num- ber of local offices, and for many years has been a delegate to various political conventions of the Republican party, of whose principles he is a: stanch adherent. He belongs to the Lutheran church.
Mr. Steinmetz was married in December, 1870, to Ellen E. Beisel, of Lower Nazareth, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Jonas and Sarah (Haas) Beisel. They have one child, Sarah J., who is the wife of Frank E. Woodring, and had five children, there of whom are living: Minnie E., Oliver S. and Florence.
ERWIN J. DECH, a resident farmer of Lower Nazareth township, Northampton county, is descended from an ancestry that has long pro- moted the agricultural development of this por- tion of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Jacob Dech, was born and died in East Allen town- ship, Norhampton county. He pursued his stu- dies in the days of his boyhood and youth in the public schools, and on putting aside his text books gave his entire attention to farm work, which he followed throughout his remaining days. On the organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks, believing firmly in the principles that con- stitute its platform. He attended the Reformed church.
Charles Dech, a son of Jacob Dech, was born in East Allen township, on the old family home-
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stead, in 1810, and died in 1854 at the compara- tively early age of forty-four years. In his youth he performed the duties of the schoolroom and enjoyed the pleasures of the playground, and when he had mastered the studies taught in the common schools he returned to the home farm, which he operated for some time. Later he sold that property and removed to Lower Nazareth township, Northampton county, where he re- mained until called to his final rest. He, too, endorsed the men and measures of the Republican party and attended the Re- formed church. He held no political office, however, being content to devote his ener- gies to his business affairs. He was married twice, his first wife having been a Koehler. Their children were Owen R., who married Elizabeth Whitsell, by whom he had one child; Sarah E., the wife of George Anawalt; and Marietta, who is the wife of Jacob Overly, and has two children. Mr. Dech's second wife bore the maiden name of Jemima Kememer, and died in 1899. She was a daughter of John and Elizabeth Kememer, and her father was a farmer of Mount Bethel township. The children of the second marriage are Erwin J .; Lucinda, who married Theodore Lawall, and has one child; Emma, who married Andrew Frankenfield, and has one child; and Tilghman, who married Mary Radley.
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