USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 62
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ALBERT PETER GRIM. The chief char- acteristics which have contributed so largely in the sucessful business career of Albert P. Grim, a member of the firm of Grim Brothers, who con- duct an extensive brick manufactory in the city . of Allentown, Pennsylvania, are energy, perse- verance, integrity and tact. He was born in Al- lentown, Pennsylvania, in 1860, a son of Peter Knapp and Elizabeth ( Mosser) Grim, who are spoken of more fully in the preceding sketch of Jacob W. Grim, a brother of Albert P. Grin.
The two brothers have been closely associated -during their childhood and manhood, attended the same educational institutions, are now partners
in business, and reside oprosite each other in handsome and modernly equipped houses located on Lehigh street. Since attaining his majority Albert P. Grim has cast his vote with the Repub- lican party, and on all questions of national, state or city politics he gives an intelligent and stanch support.
Mr. Grim was united in marriage to Tillie Hauck, a daughter of Herman and Augusta (Grauser) Hauck, and the issue of this marriage was a daughter, Florence. Mrs. Grim is one of four children, one being Minnie, who became the wife of Walter Hoffman; Frank, who resides in Allentown; and Charles, who died about 1884. Mr. Grim and his family are consistent members of the Lutheran church, and contribute liberally toward the support of the work connected with that organization.
JOHN R. G. WEYSSER, brewer of Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, August 11, 1843, a son of Charles Frederick Christian Weysser, who was a brewer of that country.
When he had completed a public school course in the fatherland he learned the brewer's trade, which he followed until 1866. In 1864 he was drafted for service in the German army, but purchased a substitute to go in his stead. Two years later he resolved to make his home in America, that he might enjoy the privileges and opportunities of a land where labor is no ham- pered by caste or class. He settled in New York, later removed to Philadelphia, and subsequently to Pittsville, Pennsylvania, where he owned and conducted a large brewery. On leaving that place he came to Mauch Chunk, where he opened his present brewery, and has developed a large and profitable business, manufacturing not only beer, but also ales and porter. Mr. Weysser's study of political issues and questions in America has led him to give his support to the Republican party. He belongs to both the Odd Fellows and the Masonic fraternity, and he and his family attend the Lutheran church.
In 1871 Mr. Weysser was married to Kath- erine Bott, who was born in Germany, near the
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boyhood home of her husband. The children of this marriage are John F .; Louisa; Emma, who died in infancy; Charles, Annie, Kate, and Robert, who was born in 1874 and died in 1885.
OSCAR E. KEMMERER is proprietor of the Delaware Paper Box factory of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, an industry that is of marked value to the locality, because it furnishes employment to a large force of workmen and thereby pro- motes the prosperity and commercial activity of the community as well as advances the individual success of the owner. He was born at Farmers- ville, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, July 30, 1867, and is a representative of one of the old families of this part of the state long con- nected with agricultural interests. His paternal great-grandfather was John Kemmerer and his grandfather was Enoch Kemmerer. The latter was a farmer, and resided in Bethlehem township throughout his entire life. He was a member of the Reformed church, and lived to be advanced age of eighty-five years. The children of his family were Alfred, Israel, Reuben, John, James and Maria.
Alfred Kemmerer, the father of Oscar E. Kemmerer, was born in Bethlehem township, Northampton county, and was employed at var- ious occupations, residing for some time at Butz- town. He married Louise Walter, a daughter of Daniel Walter and their children were Elma G. and Oscar E.
Oscar E. Kemmerer was educated in Easton, Pennsylvania, and on completing his school course engaged in the dairy business. He was afterward connected with the iron industry, and for six years operated a coach line from Broad- head to Nazareth. As time progressed he pros- pered in his undertakings, and was thus enabled to enlarge the scope of his labors. In 1894 he established the Delaware Paper Box Company at Nazareth, Pennsylvania, beginning business in a building forty by seventy feet. Prosperity at- tended the enterprise from the beginning, and as his patronage grew he was forced to enlarge his facilities in order to meet the demands of his
trade, and in 1899 added to his building until his plant is now one hundred and sixty by forty feet, and employment is furnished to forty-five people. The building is equipped with the latest improved machinery for the manufacture of all styles of paper boxes, and the output is from five to six thousand per day. The industry has become a most important one in Nazareth, and through the capable control of his enterprise Mr. Kemmerer has won a place among the substantial citizens of Northampton county. He is also interested in fine horses, and owns the celebrated "Lucy Girl," with a record of 2:1314, and "M. A. M." with a record of 2 :1714.
Mr. Kemmerer was married in November, 1894, to Miss Susan Kresge of Monroe county, Pennsylvania, and they have three children : Harold, Verga and Myrtle. Mr. Kemmerer is. a member of the Lutheran church, and is inde- pendent in his political views. He belongs to that class of American citizens who owe their ad- vancement and prosperity entirely to their own labors, and, although he started out in life empty handed, he is to-day in control of an extensive and profitable business.
FRANK MESSINGER, a representive of the commercial interests of Nazareth, where he conducted a hardware, tinsmith and plumbing business, was born in Bangor, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 23, 1871.
There is no record concerning the establish- ment of the family in Northampton county, but the first of the name to locate here probably ar- rived in colonial days, for Samuel Messinger, the grandfather of Frank Messinger, was a na- tive of Upper Mount Bethel township. In the public schools he acquired his education, and afterward followed farming throughout his en- tire business career. His son, Miles Messinger, was born on the old family homestead in 1825, and he was also a student in the common schools of his township during the period of his boyhood and youth. He entered upon his business career as an apprentice at the carpenter's trade, and fol- lowed that pursuit for a number of years, being
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actively connected with building interests in his community. He is now, however, living a re- tired life in Bangor, Pennsylvania. He gives a most active and earnest support to the Republi- can party, strongly desiring its success and the adoption of its principles. He attends the Meth- odist Episcopal church. He married Zipporah Lyons, of Upper Mount Bethel township, North- ampton county, and their marriage has been blessed with the following children : John, Mary, Lucinda, Simon, George, Reuben, Albert, Frank, Rosy, Mary Ann, who died in childhood; and one that died in infancy.
Frank Messinger, on reaching the usual age for entrance into school, began his studies in Ban- gor, Pennsylvania, and after putting aside his text books he began learning the trade of a tin- smith there. He then went to New York, where he entered the New York Training School for Plumbing, and learned the plumber's trade. Sub- sequently, he located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he followed the trades of a tinsmith and plumber for a year, and on the expiration of that period returned to Bangor, Pennsylvania, where he remained for two years. In 1900 he came to Nazareth, where he opened his tinsmith and plumbing establishment, and in connection se- cured a stock of hardware. Since that time he has conducted a growing business in these various lines, and has a trade which has now reached profitable proportions. He belongs to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and to the Improved Order of Red Men, and he attends the Reformed church.
In 1893 Mr. Messinger was united in mar- riage to Alice Fulmer, a daughter of Joseph and Sophia Fulmer, her father a farmer of Lower Mount Bethel township. Mr. and Mrs. Messin- ger now have one son, Wilbur, born September 23, 1893.
CONRAD MILLER, who is a prominent factor in the business circles of Nazareth and this section of Pennsylvania, is of German lineage, in fact, one of the first generation of the family to come to America. His father, John Miller,
was a native of one of the Hessian provinces, where he resided until 1852, when he crossed the Atlantic to Baltimore, Maryland, where he en- gaged in merchandising. While in his native land he had followed farming. His death oc- curred in Blairstown, New Jersey, and his re- mains were interred in the Baltimore cemetery. He voted with the Democracy, and was connected with the Odd Fellows. In religious faith, he was a Lutheran. He wedded Mary Ashburn, also a native of Germany, and they had eight children.
Conrad Miller was born in Germany, Octo- ber 20, 1838. He principally obtained his educa- tion under the instructions of private tutors in Germany. When a youth of fourteen years he accompanied his parents to the United States, and at once began earning his way by working for a brewer at two dollars per month and board. For six years he was engaged in merchandising at Baltimore, and for five years was in the government's employ as a quartermaster in Wash- ington, D. C., during the Civil war. About 1872, he began railroad contract work, and was for two years clerk and walking boss on the Metro- politan branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He next took a contract on the Baltimore Shore Line in Ohio, and afterwards built twenty miles of the South Mountain Road near Harrisburg, continuing his work in that line to Blairstown, New Jersey. He constructed the Blairstown Railroad to Delaware Station for J. I. Blair, in 1876, and in the spring of 1878 built the Belvi- dere Waterworks. The same year he constructed the Bangor & Portland Railroad, a distance of eight miles, and was then elected its president. and manager. About this time he became in- terested in opening slate quarries at Bangor and Chapman quarries. In 1880 he continued the extension of the Bangor & Portland Railroad from this point to Pen Argyl, and the following year the road was completed from the last named station to Nazareth. In 1882 five miles of the Martin's Creek branch was built. In 1884 he constructed the Wind Gap branch, a distance of two and a half miles. With J. I. Blair he in- vested to a large extent in the slate quarries,
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and is now president of the Bangor Union Quarry, a director in the North Bangor Com- pany ; president and treasurer of the United States Slate Quarry of Pen Argyl; president and treas- urer of the Albion Slate Company, of the same locality ; president of the Wind Gap and Alpha Slate Companies ; and receiver for Jackson Broth- ers' Slate Quarry, the Pen Argyl Slate Quarry, the Excelsior Slate Quarry, and the Diamond Slate Quarry. He is a director in the Nazareth National Bank. From the year 1890 to 1898 he had charge of John I. Blair's railroad and indus- trial interests in the west, amounting to millions of dollars. Prior to its sale to the Frisco he was president of the Kansas City, Osceola & Southern Railroad in Missouri, and president of the Chicago, Iowa & Dakota Railroad, running from Eldora Junction to Alden, Iowa. He is now president of the Kansas City & Westport Belt Railroad ; president and owner of the Illum- inating Gas Company, Slate Belt Telephone Com- pany, Electric Light Company, Foundry and Machine Company, president of the Dexter Cement Company, and director of the Northamp- ton Cement Company.
Conrad Miller is a Presbyterian in religious faith, and he belongs to Warren Lodge, No. 51, F. and A. M., of Baltimore. His political alliance is given to the Republican party. He was mar- ried August 31, 1869, to Anna M. Werling, a daughter of Andrew Werling, of Muncy, Penn- sylvania. Their children are: John A .; Sarah Virginia, born March 25, 1884; and Margaret Ann, born June 27, 1886. Mr. Miller is among the highly respected and most influential citizens of Pennsylvania.
John Andrew Miller was born in Muncy, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, September I, 1872. In his youth he was a student in Blair Hall, and afterward in the Lawrenceville Frepar- atory School of New Jersey. He then pursued a course in Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsyl- vania, and subsequently went to Bangor, this state, where he was engaged in the railroad con- tracting business until 1901. He then came to Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and is now the vice
president of the Dexter Cement Company. He is also a director and manager of the Nazareth Gas Company, of the Nazareth Foundry and Ma- chine Company, the Illuminating Gas Company and the Slate Belt Telephone Company. An en- terprising young business man, he possesses laud- able ambition, strong determination and un- flagging industry, and with these qualities as his salient characteristics he has already won suc- cesses that many an older man might well covet. He is prominent in Masonic circles, and has at- tained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite. He is also a member of the Pomfret Club at Easton, Pennsylvania, and the Northampton Country Club. He attends the German Reformed church.
John A. Miller was married to Miss Mamie Cope, a daughter of Dr. Thomas Cope, of Naza- reth. She died leaving two children: Conrad M. and Mamie.
WALLACE VICTOR SCHWEITZER, an enterprising and successful business man and worthy citizen of Butztown, Pennsylvania, traces his descent from German ancestors, one of whom emigrated to the new world at a period not stated, but probably at some time in the eighteenth cen- tury. He made a home for himself in Pennsyl- vania, where his descendants still reside. John Schweitzer (I) the first ancestor of whom we have any authentic record, was born August 15, 1755, and married Mary Freeman, who was born December 30, 1762. Their children were:
. Catharine, who was born March 23, 1782, died April 22, 1861 ; she married John Oberly, born December 2, 1781, died August 23, 1833; they were parents of the following children: a. Charles, who married Anna Boyer, and was the father of Rebecca; John T., William Owen, Charles and Catherine Oberly ; b. Owen Oberly ; c. John S. Oberly; d. Polly Oberly; f. Robert Oberly.
2. Rebecca, born August 19, 1799, died Janu- ary 3, 1882; married, April 19, 1818, Anthony Oberly, born March 1I, 1796, died June 8, 1878. They had four children: William, Sarah Ann,
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1
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HOMESTEAD OF ROBERT T. SCHWEITZER, BUTZTOWN, PA. THE MILL WAS BUILT BY HIS GRANDFATHER, GEORGE BUTZ, IN 1800.
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PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
GENEALOGICAL AND
born November 12, 1821, who became the wife of Samuel Weaver, and had three children; Eliza- beth, born October 19, 1824, who married Will- iam Reigle, and was the mother of one child; Mary, who was the wife of Joseph Riegle, and had one child.
3. Mary Ann who married John Shimer of Shimersville, and was the mother of the follow- ing children : Irwin, who married Miss Hoffman ; Milton, who married Miss Bixler ; William, James, Jacob, Robert, Sarah, and Mary.
4. (Not known) who married John Shimer, of New Jersey, and had eight children, four of whom were named respectively: Robert, John, Willia, and Lyda.
5. John, mentioned at length hereinafter.
6. Sarah, who became the wife of Joseph B. Jones, and had a son John, and a daughter Sarah, who married John Lerch (sketch elsewhere) and had one child.
7. Isaac, born July II, 1792, married Chris- tianna Dech; children-John Dech Schweitzer, George Henry Schweitzer, and Elizabeth, married Levi Hutcheon.
John Schweitzer, the father of the seven chil- dren whose names and descendants are recorded above and hereinafter, died November 29, 1839, at the age of eighty-four years, three months and fourteen days. His wife passed away Sep- tember 12, 1843, having reached the age of eighty years, eight months, and thirteen days.
John Schweitzer (2) son of John (I) and Mary (Freeman) Schweitzer, was born April 25, 1790, and married Catherine Butz, October 8, 1815, a descendant of pioneer ancestors. Chris- tian Butz came from Baltz, or Zwibruecken, Ger- many, to Philadelphia, whence he moved, to Bucks county. He prospered in his new abode, becoming the owner of three farms situated re- spectively at Tohickon, Springfield, and Spring- town. He married a Dreisbach, of the Irish set- tlement near Howertown, a place which lay in the midst of the Indian country in those early days, when Bristol was the county seat. Chris- tian Butz and his wife were the parents of the following children : I. Daniel, who settled at Bel-
videre, married, and was the father of twelve or fourteen children. 2. Abraham B., who lived on Reading turnpike near Hickory, moved to Springfield, Illinois, and died there. He married and had seven children. 3. Peter, who moved to Monroe county, married and had three children. 4. Christian, who lived at Easton, married, and was the father of four daughters, one of whom remained single, the three others marrying re- spectively an Odenwelden, a Heller, of Easton, and an Emery, of Hickory. 5. George, who was the founder of Butztown, and afterward moved to ยท Philadelphia. He married Catherine - who was born June 25, 1769, and their children were: (a) Simon, who married Miss Freeman, and was the father of Charles, Michael, Levi, Susan, and Maria. (b) Jacob, who went to Paris Illi- nois, and was the father of George, Reuben, David, and two other children, one of them a daughter, whose names are unknown. (c) George, Jr., who moved to Philadelphia, married Eliza Levan, of Kutztown, and they were the parents of two children-Alfred, who married Anna Shinn, and had six children, and Emma, who be- came the wife of Mack McCape, and was without children. (d) Elizabeth, who married John Schweitzer, of Hanover township, near Bethle- hem, and was the mother of Simon, John, Josiah, Eliza, and Louise, all of whom are buried at Shanersville. (e) Polly who became the wife of Joseph E. Jones, lived near Bethlehem, and was the mother of George, Simon, William, Josiah, Ellen and Sarah. (f) Susan, who married Jacob Freeman of Freemansburg, and was the mother of Edward, George (a physician), Catherine, who married, Mary Ann, who became the wife of Mr. Seigman, Susanna, who married Dr. and their children were Isabella and Emma. (g) Catherine, who was born October 4, 1797, and became the wife of John Schweitzer, of Butz- town, as mentioned above. George Butz, the father of the seven children whose names and de- scendants are recorded above and hereinafter, died in Philadelphia, and is buried in the north- west corner of Franklin Square. His wife, who died September 18, 1849, at the age of eighty
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
years, two months and twenty-three days, is in- terred at Dry Land Church, Hecktown, Penn- sylvania.
John (2) and Catherine (Butz) Schweitzer were the parents of the following children: I. Julia Ann, who was born August 2, 1816, married January 16, 1838, John Best, and had a daughter Catherine, who married John Richard and was the mother of six children, and a son William, who married Kate Oberly and had two children. 2. Maria, who was born January 2, 1818, married November 22, 1838, Jesse Ruch, and was the mother of four children; (a) Robert, who mar- ried Miss Weightknect, and had two children; (b) Theodore, who married Mary Grodwald and had one child ; (c) Ellen, who became the wife of Freeman Weaver, and had five children; (d) Emma, who remained unmarried. 3. Mary, who was born March 31, 1820, married December, 1842, Samuel Schortz and was the mother of two children; (a) William, who married Miss Koehler, and (second) Miss Lichtenwalter ; (b) Anna Eliza, who became the wife of George K. Hess and had one daughter. 4. Sarah, who was born September 12, 1821, and remained unmar- ried. 5. William, who was born April II, 1823, and died August 22, 1824. 6. Catherine who was born September 24, 1824, married March 18, 1851, Jacob Apple, and had three children ; (a) Valerie, who became the wife of Mr. Fleigner, and had four children ; (b) Alice, who married Solomon Stevens, and was the mother of two children ; (c) Emma, who married Frank Ruch, and was the mother of two children, Mable and Katie. 7. George Butz, born May 18, 1828, died January 19, 1882. September 4, 1851, he married Mary A. C. Kemmerer, and to them were born four children : (a) Morris K., married Clara Cort- right, and they have one daughter. (b) Aravesta, married Alfred Kemmerer ; no children. (c) Emma, married Otto Hark; children-Bertha, Walter ; Belle, deceased. (d) Flora C., married. 8. Sabina, who was born September 27, 1829, and died April 8, 1831. 9. Rebecca, who was born April 15, 1831, married January 16, 1851, Isaac L. C. Miller, and was the mother of one child, Valeria, who married Frederick Miller, and had
two children. 10. Robert Theodore, mentioned at length hereinafter. II. Eliza Ann, who was born November II, 1838, married Charles Kern, and was the mother of three children : a. Camilla, who married Mr. Keiffer, and had no children. b. Alice, who married Mr. Dillard, and was the mother of two children. c. William, who married Miss Dillard, and had one daughter. John Schweitzer, the father of the eleven children whose names and descendants are recorded above and hereinafter, died October II, 1843, aged fifty-three years, five months and sixteen days. He was survived many years by his wife, who passed away April 7, 1883, at the age of eighty- five years, six months and three days.
Robert Theodore Schweitzer (3), son of John (2) and Catherine (Butz) Schweitzer, was born March 16, 1835, in Bethlehem township, where he received his early education in the public schools. At the age of nine years he was so un- fortunate as to lose his father, and was placed in the care of a guardian and lived with his mother until reaching the age of sixteen. Meanwhile he was trained in agricultural pursuits and also learned the miller's trade. On beginning life for himself he practiced his trade in the building now occupied by his son Wallace, and at the same time cultivated a farm of one hundred and fourteen acres which he devoted to the purposes of gen- eral farming. That his business abilities were fully appreciated by his neighbors is evident from the fact that for twenty-five years he was treas- urer of the Nancy Run school district. In the sphere of politics he steadfastly advocates the men and measures supported by the Republican party. He has always been a member of the Lu- theran church. He married November 18, 1858, Mary Ann who was born July 1, 1832, died June 9, 1898, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Lau- bach) Rinker, and the following children were born to them: I. Alice Delia, born December 20, 1859, who married Frank Williams, residing in Bethlehem, and had two children : Mozelle Olive and Robert John, who is now deceased. 2. How- ard Theodore, born July 1, 1863, who married October 4, 1884, Mary Ann Fulmer, born Decem- ber 25, 1864 and had two children; Laura May,
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GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
born April 2, 1885 who became the wife of Lewis Clause, and has one child, Viola ; and Stella Elsie, born August 1, 1886, died September 6, 1887. Mr. Schweitzer, the father of these two daugh- ters, died August 24, 1886. 3. Wallace Victor, mentioned at length hereinafter. The declining years of Mr. and Mrs. Schweitzer, the parents of these children, are cheered by the affection of their children and grandchildren and the cordial regard of their many friends.
Wallace Victor Schweitzer, (4) son of Robert Theodore (3) and Mary Ann (Rinker) Schweit- zer, was born January 29, 1865, in Bethlehem township, where he received his primary educa- tion in the public schools, afterward attending for three years the Moravian day school. Some idea of his industry may be gained from the fact that while still at school he assisted his father in the labors of the farm, and also received instruc- tion from him in the milling business. In 1881 he began work in the mill which his father had man- aged for so many years, and soon caused it to appear that he had carried with him into business the habits of close application which had marked his boyhood. He is now operator of the mill, which is a very old one, having been built in 1800 by George Butz, mentioned above as the ancestor of Mr. Schweitzer, which has since come into the possession of Mr. Robert T. Schweitzer. The ancient structure has been altered and im- proved in various ways. It is run by water-power from a twenty foot overshot wheel, and Mr. Schweitzer has recently added hydraulic cider presses and fitted it up in all respects in such a manner as to meet the requirements of the farm- ers in the vicinity. Notwithstanding the assidu- ous attention bestowed by Mr. Schweitzer on all the details of his large and growing business, he never forgets to act the part of a good citizen, and proves that he has inherited his father's in- terest in the cause of education by serving as trus- tee in the school district, a position which he has held for the last six years. He is an earnest Re- publican, and a member of the Lutheran church.
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