USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 59
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Erwin J. Dech was born May 13, 1844, in Lower Nazareth township, and his early educa- tion acquired in the common schools was supple- mented by study in Allentown Academy. On putting aside his text books he began working on his father's farm, and has since engaged in its operation. He believes firmly in Republican prin- ciples, and always votes the ticket of the party. He holds the offices of school director and town- ship supervisor, and is a progressive citizen who gives loyal support to every measure for the pub- lic good. He is likewise a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity and a valued member of the Knights of Malta. He attends the Reformed church, and is a director of the Hope Cemetery Association, serving as secretary of the board at this writing, 1903.
Mr. Dech was married in 1864 to Elmira Fenicle, who was born February 12, 1845, a daughter of Samuel and Fannie Fenicle, the for- mer an agriculturist of East Allen township, Northampton county. Mr. and Mrs. Dech have the following children : Palmer, born November 15, 1864, married Mary Brown and has five chil- dren ; Howard E., born March 10, 1869, married Emma Groman, and has three children ; Laura E., born May 28, 1871, is the wife of Wilson John- son, and the mother of one child; Hattie, born August 27, 1875, became the wife of William Lichtenwalner, by whom she had two children and her second husband is Charles Gustenburg, by whom she has one child ; Mary J., born April 25, 1879, is the wife of Thomas Miller and the mother of two children; Clara, born January 16, 1882, is the wife of Wilson Saylor and has two chil- dren ; Frank Erwin Dech, born, 1886, in Lower Nazareth township.
NATHAN DRUMBORE, a successful farm- er residing in Packer township, Carbon county, was born in the Mahoning valley, in Mahoning township, Carbon county, in 1845, and is de- scended from German ancestry. The family was established by German emigrants in the valley during the pioneer epoch in its development, and since that time representatives of the name have been numbered among the industrious and valued citizens of that locality. Thomas Drumbore, the father, was born in Lynn township, Lehigh coun- ty, and became a wealthy farmer of Mahoning valley, owning and operating over two hundred acres of very valuable farming land. He was both practical and progressive in his agricultural pursuits, and his labors brought to him a very gratifying financial return. He married Miss Kate Fenstermacher, who was also born in Lynn township, I.ehigh county, and his death occur- red in 1867, while his wife survived him until 1900. In their family were seven children: Na- than, Alfred, William, Henry, Elvina, Drucilla and Lena.
Nathan Drumbore was reared under the par- ental roof, and acquired his education in the pub-
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lic schools. ; His life has been devoted to the but- chering business and to agricultural pursuits, and in both lines of activity he has prospered. At one time he owned a tract of land in Mahoning valley, where he resided for a number of years, or until 1888. At that time he removed to Lehighton, where he engaged in the butchering business, re- maining a resident of the latter place for ten years. He enjoyed a good patronage during that period, and at the end of the decade sold his interest and removed to Weatherly, making his home there until 1903. In that year he purchased his present farm, situated in Packer township, Carbon county. This comprises one hundred acres of very rich and arable land adjoining the corporation limits of the borough of Weatherly on the west. He devotes his attention to the raising of the various cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, and in connection with his farming interests he also conducts a livery stable, which is largely patron- ized by the people of the borough. He keeps good horses and fine carriages, 'and has secured a lib- eral patronage in this department of his business. His farm is improved with all modern conven- iences and equipments and is indeed, one of the valuable properties of the community.
In 1869 Mr. Drumbore was united in mar- riage to Miss Ellen Dreher, of Lehighton, Penn- sylvania. She is a representative of a family of farming people who through generations have been worthy citizens of this state. Her parents were Casper and Mary (Beil) Dreher, and their family numbered thirteen children, eight of whom are now living, namely: Renerville, Mary, Ellen, Elvin, Charles, Emma, Ida, and George. To Mr. and Mrs. Drumbore have been born ten chil- dren, as follows: Elsie, Clara, Harry, Bert, Charles, Edward, Robert, William, George and Alexander.
GUSTAV THEODORE FOX, M. D., a prominent and noted physician, oculist and lect- urer, who resides in Bath, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, is a descendant on the paternal side of a family who have won prominence and distinction in the field of medicine and surgery
both in the United States and Germany, his an- cestors for three generations back having been representative members of that profession. Dr. Fox was born in Bath, Pennsylvania, November 30, 1843, a son of the Rev. Augustus and Charity (Shuman) Fox.
Jacob Andrew Fox (great-grandfather) was a native of Germany. He received his education in the schools and colleges of that country, and in early manhood chose the medical profession for his life work. He evinced a decided ability and aptitude for surgical work, and in due course of time became noted for his skill and proficiency in that branch of the profession. He was married three times, his second marriage taking place April 6, 1801, a month previous to the marriage of his son by a former marriage. John Conrad Fox (grandfather) son of Jacob Andrew Fox, was also a native of Germany, and resided in Steddorf, kingdom of Hanover, where he was a prominent and influential citizen. He was a physician and surgeon, and in addition to the du- ties of a large and select practice he served in the capacity of judge. His marriage to Anna Cath- arine Boechen occurred May 26, 1801 ..
Augustus Fox (father) was born in Steddorf, kingdom of Hanover, Germany, May 6, 1803. He received his educational advantages in the Gym- nasium at Stada and the University at Got- tingen, Germany, and subsequently, he was or- dained a minister of the gospel in the Lutheran church. The death of his parents occurred in the year 1831, and shortly after their demise he em- barked in an English brig for the United States. After a stormy and tedious voyage of three months he landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, thence made his way on foot to Baltimore, Mary- land, and while residing there was advised by the Rev. Mr. Uhlhorn, of that city, to enter the Theo- logical Seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in order to perfect himself in the English language. He already had some knowledge of the language, as was evidenced by his diary. After spending some time at the institution he received a call to become assistant pastor of a church in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, and in this capacity he
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rserved until 1835; when he received a unanimous 'call to the Lutheran church at Bath, Northamp- ton county, his charge including at one time five congregations - Plainfield, Belfast, Peterville, Howertown and Bath. He was a man of broad intellectual attainments, possessed the faculty of gaining and retaining the esteem and confidence of his parishoners, and during his forty years pastorate the churches enjoyed a career of use- fulness and activity. 1
In connection with his ministerial work Rev. Mr. Fox studied medicine with Dr. Woesselholft, and became one of the pioneer homeopathic physi- cians in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, where for many years he enjoyed a large and lu- crative practice. Dr. Fox was united in marriage to Sevilla Yohe, of Mifflin, and two children were born to them : Eliza, who died in childhood, and Elenora who married John Dreisbach, by whom she had two children, Allen and Sevilla Dreisbach. After the death of Mr. Dreisbach she married Samuel Schofield, who is now de- ceased, by whom she had three sons. Mrs. Fox died December 16, 1839, and Rev. Mr. Fox mar- ried for his second wife Charity Shuman, daugh- ter of William Shuman, a resident of Lower Mt. Bethel township: The issue of this marriage was one son, Gustav Theodore Fox. Rev. Mr. Fox died at his residence in Bath, Pennsylvania, De- "cember 20, 1879, aged seventy-seven years, and his widow died April 15, 1902, aged seventy-five years.
Gustav T. Fox, only son of the Rev. Augustus and Charity Fox, was reared in the town of Bath, Pennsylvania, and obtained an excellent educa- tion at Freeland Seminary, Montgomery county, and the Easton Collegiate Institute. Subsequent- ly he began a course of medical reading with Dr. George P. Kern, of Bath, and in due course of time matriculated at the University Medical Col- lege of New York City, from which institution he was graduated in April, 1865, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. The following ten years he was engaged in a general practice of medicine and surgery, after which he pursued a course of gen- eral medicine at Bellevue Hospital, New York
City, at the same time taking a private' course on the study of the eye under Professor Noyes, the ophthalmic surgeon of the Manhattan Eye and Ear Infirmary. In 1880 he went to Philadelphia, where he pursued a special course on the eye un- der the competent instruction of Dr. Brewer Hall, Dr. P. D. Keyser and Dr. George Strawbridge. In 1885 he again spent the winter in Philadelphia and devoted his time to attending the clinics at the Philadelphia Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Wills Eye Hospital. In 1900 Dr. Fox took a course at the Eppendorf Kronkenhaus, one of the most extensive and noted hospitals in Germany, and was also under the private instruction of Pro- fessor Deutchman on the eye, and under Profes- sor Trost on the ear, nose and throat. Since 1875 Dr. Fox has confined his practice exclusively to eye, ear, nose and throat work, his patronage covering an area of thirty miles each way from his home, and this fact is sufficient evidence of his ability to successfully cope with the numerous difficulties that arise in this branch of the profes- sion. He has served in the capacity of medical examiner for various life insurance companies. . Dr. Fox has gained considerable prominence as a traveler and lecturer, being well qualified for the latter by his keen observation of men and ob- jects and the gift he possesses to impart this knowledge to others. His lectures on American. . subjects are: "Over the Range to the Golden Gate," and "The Yosemite Valley and the Yellow- stone Park." His European subjects are: "Great Britain," "North and Middle Germany," "A Trip through Holland, Belgium, France and Swit- zerland," "Southern Germany and Austria," "Italy and its Shrines," "The Paris Exposition," "Ober Ammergau, the Place, the People and the Play." Dr. Fox has visited all the places he de- scribes, and has collected a wealth of material for his lectures by years of travel, both in this country and in the old world. He has gathered many rare gems of thought, and secured a large col- lection of the greatest scenic views of the world, all of which have been selected with rare taste and discrimination. In religion, Dr. Fox is an adherent of the doctrines of the Lutheran church,
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and in politics, he is an advocate of the principles of the Independent party. He is a member of the Lehigh Valley Medical Society, and of the An- cient Order of Free and Accepted Masons, in which organization he is a past master.
February 12, 1867, Dr. Fox married Hannah C. Seem, daughter of Samuel Seem, of Bath, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of one daughter, Mary Charity, wife of Dr. Walter Edson Decker, of Boston, Massa- chusetts.
HON. ALLEN CRAIG inscribed his name high upon the roll of leading and distinguished statesman and jurists of the Lehigh Valley. He represented his district in the legislative halls of Pennsylvania both as a member of the house and senate, and for eight years was judge of his coun- ty. A man of broad legal learning he not only wisely interpreted the laws of the state but also took an active part in framing them and no history of the valley would be complete without extended mention of his life work.
Judge Allen Craig was born in Lehigh Gap, Carbon county, December 25, 1835, and died De- cember 31, 1892. The Craig family is of Scotch Irish lineage and was established in America in 1728 by ancestors who settled in Northampton county, Pennsylvania. The grandfather, General Thomas Craig, served under Arnold in the French and Indian war and was also one of the heroes of the Revolution, commanding the Third Penn- sylvania Regiment during the struggle for inde- pendence. When again the country became in- volved in war with England he was appointed general of the American forces. His time and energies when not in civil life were devoted to agricultural pursuits. He married Dorothy Brien- ick and they became the parents of six children, Charles, Thomas, Eliza, Mary, Harriet and Will- iam. General Craig died at the very advanced age of ninety-two years.
Captain Thomas Craig, the father of Judge Craig, was born in Northampton county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1772 and pursued his education in the home schools and at'Wolfe's Academy. In 1795
he accompanied his parents on their removal to Lehigh Gap in what is now Carbon county and in his early business career he became proprietor there of the hotel known as the Lehigh Gap Inn. His business activities, however, extended to other fields of labor for he engaged in general merchandising and also conducted a lumber yard. He likewise ran a stage line, making trips between Easton and Mauch Chunk. His military title was won by service as commander of the troop of horse, a company of the Pennsylvania militia. In. public affairs he became prominent and influential and was widely recognized as a leader of thought and action in Carbon county. He was called to represent his district in the state legislature and in many other ways he aided in shaping the pol- icy of his district, leaving the impress of his in- dividuality upon general advancement and im- provement. He was united in marriage to Miss. Kuntz, by whom he had two children. One- of them reached years of maturity. After the death of his first wife he was married to Miss Catherine Hagenbach of Siegfrieds Bridge, Penn- sylvania. The children of his second marriage- were Eliza, John, Allen, William and Robert. Cap- tain Craig passed away in 1858 and his wife died in 1871. Eliza Craig, the daughter, became the wife of General Charles Hechman. John Craig,. the eldest son of the second marriage, wedded a Miss Insley of Bath, Pennsylvania, and had. Thomas B., Charles, Philip Insley, H. Lyndale,. Nettie, William, who married Mattie Gish, and Robert, the youngest of the family, who married. Anna Mahon.
Judge Allen Craig laid the foundation for an advanced course of study by attending the old Vandeveer Academy at Easton, Pennsylvania, and subsequently he matriculated in Lafayette- College, in which he completed his literary course- with the class of 1855. Wishing to become a member of the bar he took up the study of law in the office of the Hon. M. M. Dummick, of Mauch Chunk and was admitted to practice in Carbon county on the 4th of June, 1858. His profes- sional career was a brilliant and successful one. Through merit and ability he gradually worked
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his way upward until he occupied a place in the foremost ranks of the representatives of the legal fraternity in the Lehigh valley. He became a partner of James S. Loose, of Mauch Chunk in 1879, and the firm was unsurpassed by any prac- titioners of this part of the state. His prepara- tion of cases was most thorough and exhaustive; he seemed almost intuitively to grasp the strong points of law and fact and he presented them in clear and cogent form. Possessed of an analytical mind and one that was readily receptive and re- tentive of the fundamental principles and intrica- cies of the law, he was also gifted with the spirit of devotion to wearisome details, was quick to comprehend the most subtle problems and was logical in his conclusions, fearless in defense of any case he might espouse, he was also the soul of honor and integrity and thus few men were more largely gifted for the achievement of suc- cess in the difficult profession of the law. His efforts, too, were directed to other lines of business activity and through many years he was a direc- tor of the First National Bank of Mauch Chunk. He was likewise connected with the Mauch Chunk Gas & Water Movements and the keen dis- cernment which he manifested at the bar or on the bench was also a potent factor in the successful control of commercial enterprises.
Because of his ability both naturally and ac- quired and his fitness for leadership Judge Craig was frequently called upon to serve in positions of public trust and honor. In 1859 he was elected district attorney of Carbon county and, entering upon the duties of the office in the following year, filled that position in a capable manner until 1866. In that year he was elected to represent Carbon and Monroe counties in the state legislature and held the office for three successive terms of one year each. Higher political honors were accorded him in 1878 by his election to the state senate for a term of four years from the districts compris- ing Carbon, Monroe and Pike counties. Ably did he perform the duties of the office, proving in both houses a most capable member, working for the best interests of those whom he represented. In 1892 he was elected judge of the courts of Car-
bon and Monroe counties, serving until 1901, at which time Carbon was made a separate district called the fifty-sixth, and the Hon. Horace Heydt was appointed to the bench, while Judge Craig was transferred to the forty-third district, com- prising Monroe and Pike counties. In Novem- ber, 1902, he was a candidate for resident judge in Carbon county, but was defeated owing to the- strong socialistic movement led by Judge Heydt. As a lawyer Judge Craig was possessed of great ability and during his connection with the Carbon county bar was well known as a corporation attor- ney, being the local representative of important corporate concerns. As a judge he was faithful in the discharge of the multitudinous delicate du- ties which devolved upon him and was known as a safe trial judge. His opinions were seldom re- versed and indicated strong mentality, careful analysis, a thorough knowledge of law and an un- biased judgment. His saliant characteristics com- bined to make him one of the most capable jurists that ever graced the bench of his district and the public and the profession acknowledge him the peer of any jurist of the court. In the Monroe courts he presided in the trial of many important cases, among which was the famous Pohoquohie fish suit, in which he rendered a decision, that of landing net was a proper legal device for catching trout. Another case of prominence was the suit between the Lackawanna and New York & West- ern Railroads, involving coal contracts of great magnitude ; the Pure Food case and the Strather, on both of which the supreme court sustained his decisions, were also notable ones. During the first three years of his term on the bench he was un- able to hold court in Mauch Chunk to any great extent, on account of connection with all the liti- gation in Carbon before his elevation to the bench but was the president judge in the sensational Lyons-Dunn judgeship election matter in Schuyl- kill county. In manner he was always courteous and agreeable, possessed of general humor and social qualities that made him a delightful com- panion. He was one of the best informed men of the state, reading broadly upon all matters of general interest and carrying his investigation
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into the best of literature. He served for a short time during the Civil war, becoming a member of the Nineteenth Pennsylvania Infantry in 1862 and he has always taken a prominent part in Grand Army affairs. When it was purposed to erect a monument "to all the brave defenders of the Union from the county of Carbon," Judge Craig was chosen chairman of the building committee and labored earnestly until the completion of the monument and its dedication September 28, 1886. He was a great favorite with the boys in blue and few public meetings and camp fires were ever held in Mauch Chunk at which he was not called upon to address his old army comrades .. .
Judge Allen, Craig was united in marriage in 1866 to A. Isabel Douglas, a daughter of Edwin A. and Harriet (Dexter). Douglas. They had four children. Douglas, the eldest, married Ber- tha Evelyn Steinmetz. Henry Douglas, who is a graduate of Lafayette College of Easton, Fennsyl- vania and now a civil engineer by profession, has charge of numerous coke ovens in Virginia. He married Luella MacAllister and lives at Dore- chester. Their child is Douglas. The younger members of the Craig family are Harriet and Gay Gordon. ยป ..
HENRY DRYFOOS, JR. Prominent among the young business men and influential residents of Hazleton, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, is Henry Dryfoos, Jr., a native of that city, the date of his birth being May 25, 1870. He has achieved a large degree of success in the various enterprises in which he is engaged, and this has been the re- sult of honorable business transactions, persev- erance and close application to whatever calling he adopts. He is a son of Henry and Sarah J. Dryfoos.
Henry Dryfoos (father) is a native of Ger- many, and in 1857 or the following year he emi- grated to the United States, settling in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. His first occupation in his adopted country was the wholesale and retail butcher busi- ness, in which he was successfully engaged for a number of years, and later he devoted his entire attention to the real estate business, erecting al-
most one hundred houses, and being the most ex- tensive owner of real estate in the city. He was also active and prominent in other, enterprises. He was united in marriage to Mrs. D. Sloan, nee Sarah J. Engle, daughter of John Engle, a prom- inent resident of the Lehigh Valley. Their chil- dren are: Rose E., wife of W. T. Goodnow, of Sayre, Pennsylvania; Mary, wife of Alvin Markle, of Hazelton, Pennsylvania; Louisa A., wife of J. Elmer Jones, of Hazelton, Pennsyl- vania ; and Henry Dryfoos, Jr. .
Henry Dryfoos, Jr., acquired in the Hill School at Pottstown a practical education which prepared him for the activities of life, and his first business experiences was gained by engaging in real estate transactions with his father, which proved a profitable source of income for several years. In 1899 he established what is now known as the Hub Shoe Company, of Hazelton, Penn- sylvania. He is also largely interested in the Sayre Stamping Company, one of the leading in- dustries of Sayre, Pennsylvania, and which he is serving in the capacity of vice-president ; and is a director of the Eaton & Glover Company, manu- facturers of engraving machines of New York City. Mr. Dryfoos is not unmindful of his duties and obligations as a citizen of this great republic, and he also takes a keen interest in local politics, having been elected a member of the council of Hazleton in 1897. He is a stanch advocate of the principles of Republicanism.
Mr. Dryfoos was married, in June, 1900, to Miss Grace M. Fogel, daughter of L. J. Fogel, of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. Their children are: Isabel F., born February 8, 1902; and Sarah, born October 21, 1903.
JAMES E. NAGLE, deceased, was a resi- dent of Lower Nazareth township, Northampton county, where for many years he was actively en- gaged in farming. He belonged to a family long connected with agricultural interests in this coun- ty. His father, Christian Nagle, was born in Lower Nazareth township, and, having acquired a common school education, turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he followed
Amor Kapel
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throughout his entire business career. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. He married Esther Musselman, of Lower Nazareth township, and by this marriage there were six children: Polly Ann, Rebecca, Priscilla, Fietta, John H. and James E.
James E. Nagle was born in Lower Nazareth township, on the old family home, July 5, 1843, and that farm was his playground in youth, his training school for life's practical duty, and be- came the field of his activity after entering upon man's estate. He was indebted to the common schools of his township for his educational priv- ileges he enjoyed in early life, and later was a student in a private school in Easton, Pennsyl- vania. On putting aside his text books he turned uis attention to the occupation of farming, which he followed until his death in 1888. His political allegiance was given to the Democracy, and he held the office of constable.
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