USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 63
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Wallace V. Schweitzer married May 14, 1889, Mary Ann, born December 25, 1864, daughter of John and Susan Fulmer, the former a son of
Christian Fulmer. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schweitzer: Clara Catherine, born July 6, 1891; Warren Arthur, born May 15, 1893, died July 18, 1893; Elsie May, born August 29 1894; Ruth Esther, born June 6, 1897, died May 26, 1898 ; and John Chris- tian, born January 17, 1899.
EDWIN LAWALL, engaged in general mer- chandising in Newburg, Pennsylvania, is of French Huguenot lineage, and the family's identi- fication with America and its interests dates from the middle of the eighteenth century. His pa- ternal great-grandfather, John Michael Lawall, came to this country in the year 1749. He had a son, John Lawall, who married a Miss Bonstein, and unto them were born twelve children: Will- iam F., Jacob, John, David, Michael, Mary, Susan, Salina, Katherine, Matilda, Peter and Peggy. Of this number only Mary is now living.
William F. Lawall, the youngest, and the father of our subject, was born in Lower Nazar- eth township, Northampton county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1826, and was reared upon the old fam- ily homestead, while in the common schools he acquired his education. When a young man he came to Easton, where he followed the trade of bricklaying, and his excellent workmanship in this line enabled him later to engage in an exten- sive and profitable contracting business on his own account. He took contracts for the erection of many of the large and substantial buildings here, and the volume of his business constantly increased, making him one of the prosperous rep- resentatives of the building interests of the city. He continued in the business until 1871, when he purchased a farm in Lower Nazareth township, where he resided until 1886, after which he lived a retired life in Easton, until called to his final home in the year 1890. Of the Third Street Re- formed church he was an acceptable member, and he was also an exemplary representative of Eas- ton Lodge, No. 152, F. and A. M. His widow, who bore the maiden name of Ellen Horn, is still living in Easton, Pennsylvania. They became the parents of six children : Macshaund; William H., Flora, deceased; Edwin; George, who has
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also passed away; and Frank. All were born in Easton.
Edwin Lawall, born in Easton, January 3, 1862, is indebted to the public schools of that city for the educational privileges he enjoyed. He afterward resided on the farm with his father in Lower Nazareth township until 1885, when he became connected with mercantile interests as a salesman in the store of William Laubach of Easton, where he remained for fifteen years. In 1900 he came to Newburg and established a gen- eral mercantile business, which he is now con- ducting.
Edwin Lawall is a Republican in his political views, and is now assistant postmaster of New- burg. He and his wife are members of the Re- formed church. He was married January 3, 1885, to Miss Alice M. Heller, a daughter of Val- entine and Savilla L. (Schall) Heller, of Heck- town, Pennsylvania. By this union there are five children : Griffith S., John E., Walter M., Ruth E. and George R.
JOHN JACOB WEISS, son of John Jacob and Maria Elizabeth Weiss, born July 20, 1721, came to Philadelphia on the ship "Lydia," 1740, Captain Allen, from Rotterdam, and was quali- fied September 27, 1740. Record of his birth and of his ancestors in a direct line is in the Lutheran church of Walheim, Wurtemberg, Germany, from John George Weiss (son of John Weiss), who married Barbara Weick in the Evangelical church, Walheim, November 7, 1670. On Oc- tober 13, 1746, he was married to Rebecca Cox, who was born in Passayunk township, Philadel- phia, November 23, 1725. Her parents were members of the Swedish Lutheran church. On the 8th of January, 1749, they both joined the Moravian church, Philadelphia. In 1750 it is recorded that he owned a number of tracts of land on the north side of the Blue mountains, be- tween Wind and Smith's Gap. He died Septem- ber 22, 1788, and was buried in the First Mora- vian churchyard, Philadelphia. His wife died July 3, 1808. Of the eleven children, only two were married-Jacob, who married Elizabeth
Robinson, of Philadelphia, and Mary, who mar- ried Charles Cist, a printer of Philadelphia.
Records of the births, marriages and deaths of John Jacob Weiss' wife and children in the church book of the First Moravian church, Philadelphia :
Jacob Weiss, son of John Jacob and Rebecca (Cox) Weiss, was born in Philadelphia, August 21, 1750. On March 26, 1772, he was married to Elizabeth Robinson, by Rev. Jacob Fries of the First Moravian church of Philadelphia.
After the commencement of hostilities be- tween the mother country and the colonies he entered the Continental service in the first com- pany of Philadelphia volunteers, commanded by Captain Cadwalader, and after having performed a tour of duty he was at the earnest recommen- dation of General Mifflin, then acting as quarter- master-general, to whom he had served an ap- prenticeship in the mercantile line and who knew him to be a trusty and proficient accountant, ap- pointed a deputy quartermaster-general under him, and subsequently under General Greene, in which station he remained until General Greene took command of the southern army, during which perilous times he was almost constantly attached to and followed the various and often sudden movements of the main army, which proved a very harrassing and arduous service. By the advice of General Greene, who in his fare- well letter to him highly and affectionately com- mended him for the faithful performance of the various duties impressed upon him, he accepted the appointment as assistant deputy quartermas- ter-general at Easton for the county of North- ampton, in the fall of 1780, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. In June, 1780, Colonel Weiss moved his family from Easton to. Nazareth. After closing up the business of his department in 1783 he retired from the public service and purchased a tract of land from the Moravians on the Lehigh river, south of the Blue Mountains, which included the broad flat upon which is located the town of Weissport. This was the site selected by the Moravian mis- sionaries in 1754, named New Gnadenhuetten ..
Frances Wife
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Here uney erected dwellings for their Indian con- verts and built a new chapel. It was also once the site of Fort Allen. To this wild and se- cluded spot he brought his family in 1785. Within the enclosure around Colonel Weiss's house, was the well dug inside of the fort, erected here by Dr. Franklin, remaining as a memorial of the old Indian war until it was destroyed by the flood of 1862. Besides farming, the lumber business claimed a large portion of the Colonel's time and attention. Under his energetic management the flats around his dwellings and the adjacent hills were rapidly cleared up and brought under cul- tivation, and the surrounding forests furnished an abundant supply of lumber for his mills. An old daybook gives an account of the hands em- ployed by Colonel Weiss and the kind of work they were doing. About this time, 1785 to 1788, he was also engaged in business with Judge Hol- lenback, under the firm name of Weiss & Hollen- back. In the Tioga books that were in the pos- session of Harrison Wright, Esq., of Wilkes- Barre, (a descendant of John Jacob Weiss) ac- counts have been given of the various goods sold by the firm.
In the year 1791 an event occurred, in itself apparently trifling, but destined in the near future to work a mighty change in the wild and solitary region of the Lehigh lying to the north of the Colonel's house. This was the accidental dis- covery of anthracite coal by Philip Ginter, a hunter, who observed it adhering to the roots of a tree which had been blown down, as he was tramping over the mountains in search of game. As he had often listened to the traditions of the country of the existence of coal in the vicinity, it occurred to him that this might be a portion of that "stone coal" of which he had heard, and the next day carried it to Colonel Jacob Weiss. The Colonel took the specimen to Philadelphia and submitted it to the inspection of John Nich- olson, Michael Hillegas, and to his brother-in- law Charles Cist, who ascertained its nature and qualities and authorized Colonel Weiss to satisfy Ginter for his discovery upon pointing out the spot where he found the coal.
Hillegas, Cist, Weiss, Henry and some others
formed themselves into what was called the "Le- high Coal Mine Company" and took up about eight or ten thousand acres of unlocated land, em- bracing the principal portion of the coal lands now operated on by the Lehigh Coal and Naviga- tion Company. The mining operations of the com- pany, however, were not successful, and the mine remained in a neglected condition for several years. Between the coal mine and the distant market lay a vast expanse of mountainous coun- try. The Lehigh river in its then unimproved state seemed to offer insurmountable obstacles in any attempt to float anything much larger than a canoe over its rapid current and rocky bed. Col- onel Weiss, notwithstanding tne inauspicious out- look, determined that the coal should at least be introduced to the acquaintance of the public. Ox teams were brought into requisition, and sev- eral loads were hauled across the mountains to the Mahoning and thence to Fort Allen. "The writer often heard his father speak of the diffi- culties encountered in these attempts to haul coal across the mountains; the ascent of the mountains was less difficult than the descent; in the latter case it was necessary to fell large trees and attach them to the wagon to prevent a run- away." But Colonel Weiss was persistent in his determination to bring the coal into use. He filled his saddle bags with the coal and rode around among the blacksmiths of the country soliciting them to try it; some used it with partial success, and others threw it aside. Several years ago the writer met an old gentleman who saw Colonel Weiss at Kreidersville, Northampton county, then on his way to Philadelphia with his first specimens of coal, which he carried in his saddle bags. It was a holiday, and a number of the country people had collected at the hotel. He was playing with the boys when the Colonel drove up in his oldfashioned chaise, with the saddle bags swinging over the axle of the vehicle. While waiting for dinner and his horse to be fed, he exhibited his specimens of black stones, which excited the curiosity of the crowd. They were, however, rather incredulous when he told them it would burn. The coal mine company, desirous of rendering their property available,
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granted leases to several parties successively, only to be abandoned in time when the difficulties and losses of the enterprise became manifest, and the project was allowed to rest until the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, by building dams and sluices and otherwise improving the navigation of the Lehigh, and constructing a good road be- tween the mines and the river, succeeded in send- ing coal to the Philadelphia market in sufficient quantities and at prices which at length attracted the attention of the public. In the year 1820 three hundred and sixty-five tons of coal were sent to market. This quantity of coal completely :stocked the market and was disposed of with difficulty. The following is copied from the Friedenbote, Allentown, January 9, 1839.
"Died, on the ninth instant at his residence in Weissport, Northampton county, Colonel Jacob Weiss, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. Mr. Weiss had the misfortune of the last twenty years of being deprived of his eyesight, and this took from him the pleasure of being a witness of the results which followed his efforts and which brought into fulfilment his burning desires. Mr. Weiss was favored with a good rearing and pos- sessed a strong spirit, a remarkable memory, and astounding facility for head calculations. His was a strong and sterling honesty. He was pos- sessed of honorable aspirations, and was a firm believer in the saving merits of his Reedemer, and died generally respected and honored."
He died at Weissport, January 9, 1839, and his remains rest in the cemetery near the village. His widow, Elizabeth Robinson Weiss, survived him six years, reaching the ripe age of ninety-one years.
Elizabeth Robinson, wife of Jacob Weiss, daughter of Francis and Elizabeth Robinson, was born March 6, 1754, and baptized April 13, by Rev. William Sturgeon, assistant to Rev. Robert Jenny, minister of Christ church, Philadelphia. (Copied from register of Christ church, Phila- delphia.) She died at Weissport. November 29, 1844. She was buried by the side of her husband, in the village graveyard.
From the Moravian records, Philadelphia, was taken the following :
Elizabeth Kemble, mother of Elizabeth Rob-
inson, born Chaplin, December 7-18, 1727, in Fhil- adelphia, formerly attached to Christ church. . She married April 23, 1750, Thomas Archdall, who died 1751 ; married Francis Robinson ( father of Elizabeth Robinson who married Jacob Weiss) in 1752, and who died 1758. Married George Kemble, December 19, 1763 who died 1774. She became a member of the Moravian church in No- vember of 1758, was confirmed May 9, 1761. She died at Nazareth, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1789. Her first two marriages are recorded in the church books of Christ church, Philadelphia.
Anna Chaplin, maiden name Bevan, grand- mother of Elizabeth Robinson, born April 3-14, 1696, in Glamorganshire, Wales, came to Penn- sylvania in 1710. United with the Moravian church, Philadelphia, March 20, 1763, as a widow.
The children of Jacob Weiss and Elizabeth Robinson Weiss were: Francis, born in Philadel- phia, March 7, 1773, who followed the business of surveying, never having married, residing with his father at the old homestead. He died March 5, 1845. Rebecca, born in Philadelphia, April 9, 1774; married William Horsfield, (son of Timothy Horsfield) died at Bethlehem, Febru- ary 14, 1845. Jacob, born August 18, 1775, spent many years in the mercantile business, first in Luzerne and later in Schuylkill county. He died unmarried at Weissport, January 8, 1838, and was buried in the graveyard at the old Towa- mencing church. Thomas, born in Philadelphia, August 29, 1776. His early years were spent in Easton and Nazareth. After attending school for several years at the latter place he was appren- ticed to a hatter. After serving his apprentice- ship he abandoned the business in disgust and took charge of his father's farming and lumber- ing business. He was an active and enterprising citizen and took a lively interest in all the public enterprises of the day. He was especially active in commending the common school system to the farmers of the surrounding country. After the completion of the Lehigh Canal, in connection with his brother Francis, he laid out the town of Weissport, locating it on the broad flat lying between the river and canal. True, the site se-
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lected had once been overflowed by an extraor- dinary flood known as "Tippey's flood," some forty years before, but this had begun to be looked upon as one of those occurrences which would probably never be repeated. But, after the destructive floods of 1841 and 1862, people began to realize the fact that a safer location for build- ing purposes might be more desirable, and the growth of the town has since been very much who resided about three miles from Fort Allen, (the family being among the early settlers of Big Creek), September 15, 1806, and took up their abode in a dwelling standing near the house of Colonel Weiss, which they occupied until near the close of their lives. Thomas Weiss died at Weissport, April 23, 1847. His widow survived him about eight years, and died July 31, 1855.
in boat building and the mercantile business in Weissport, died August 6, 1866. Francis, the only member of the family who engaged in the coal business since his grandfather's early attempt to distribute coal in saddle bags. Alexander, now residing on a ranch at Los Angeles, California.
Francis Weiss, son of Thomas and Maria Solt Weiss, born at Weissport, Carbon county, retarded. Thomas Weiss married Maria Solt, Pennsylvania, August 23, 1819, married January 5, 1842, Elizabeth Kuntz, daughter of John and Maria (Snyder) Kuntz, of Mahoning township, Carbon county, Pennsylvania. He attended school at Lehighton, across the river from his home. He then went to school at Lexington, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. After leaving school he was taught surveying by his uncle and namesake, Francis Weiss, a surveyor. For sev- Paul Solt (father of Maria, wife of eral years he was in the engineer corps in the em- Thomas Weiss) was born in Lower Towamencing, March 17, 1758, died January 21, 1849, and was buried in St. Faul's churchyard, about three miles east from Weissport, Penn- sylvania. ploy of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation, and the Lehigh and Susquehanna railroad companies, had charge as civil engineer of the enlargement of a part of the Morris Canal in New Jersey, and was also engaged in the making of private draughts Eva Schaffer, wife of Paul Solt, born in Lower Towamencing, April 5, 1766; died May 3, 1833, buried at St. John's church, Lower Towamencing. and surveys. On September 12, 1843, he was appointed deputy surveyor of Carbon county, by Jacob Sallade, surveyor-general of the common- wealth of Fennsylvania. In the year 1845 he John Solt, grandfather of Maria Solt Weiss, born August 20, 1722, died January 18, 1803, buried in St. John's churchyard, Lower Towa- mencing. went to Summit Hill and engaged in coal min- ing. He associated himself with Richard Sharpe, John Leisenring, Ira Cortright and George Bel- ford. Mr. Weiss and his associates were very Maria Catherine, wife of John Solt, born Jan- uary 7, 1732, died October 13, 1815, buried at the side of her husband. successful in operating these mines, and in the year 1854 they left Summit Hill, going to Eckley, Luzerne county, where they secured a twenty- The children of Thomas Weiss and his wife Maria Solt Weiss : Rebecca, married to Dr. John D. Thompson, who for a long time was the only physician in the lower part of Carbon county. Elizabeth, married Jacob Bowman, of Bowmans- ville, Pennsylvania. Lewis, who died at Lehigh- ton, Pennsylvania, July 20, 1895 ; he commenced building boats in 1832 for the Morris Canal and Banking Company, and was also engaged in the mercantile business. Charles. a surveyor, died in Michigan, November 30, 1839. Julia, who died at Weissport, January 2, 1818. Edward engaged one year lease of the Council Ridge Colliery from the Coxe estate. During his residence in Eckley he joined the St. James Episcopal church, Rev. Peter Russell, rector. Near the expiration of the lease, Mr. Weiss built a home at the corner of Market and High streets, Bethlehem, Penn- sylvania, where he moved with his family, Oc- tober 1, 1870. Here he resided during the re- mainder of his lifetime. Whilst residing at Beth- lehem he was more or less actively engaged in coal mining. At the time of his death he was president of the Alden Coal Company. For a
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time he was proprietor of the Lehigh Shovel Works, in South Bethlehem. He was a director of the Old Bangor Slate Company. Upon the death of Dr. G. B. Linderman, Mr. Weiss, who was then the vice-president of the Lehigh Valley National Bank, was elected president of that institution. Mr. Weiss was also a large stock- holder of the Bethlehem Iron Company, and was also interested in the new Pioneer Iron Works at Birmingham, Alabama. He was one of the prominent movers in the erection of Trin- ity Episcopal church in 1872, and was honored with the senior wardenship of the church, which office he held up to the time of his death. He took especial pride and interest in the church, and his contributions to its support were liberal and freely given. He died February 14, 1888. Mr. Rich- ard Sharpe, upon his arrival at the home of the deceased, said: "Mr. Weiss and I have been closely associated in business for forty years, and in all that time there was never an unkind word from his lips, or an unkind action on his part." He was buried in Nisky Hill cemetery, Bethle- hem, Pennsylvania. Four sons and three daugh- ters survive him: Rebecca, wife of Joseph East- burn Smaltz, of Philadelphia; Caroline, wife of George H. Myers, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Francis Weiss and William H. Weiss, both of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Katherine, wife of Alonzo Potter Rosenberger, of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania ; Thomas Weiss, and Harry Weiss of Los Angeles, California.
Elizabeth Kuntz (Koons), wife of Francis Weiss, was born in Whitehall township, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, August 19, 1819. She died in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1897. She was buried by the side of her husband in Nisky Hill cemetery.
John Kuntz, father of Elizabeth Kuntz, farmer, had a grist mill and saw mill at Lehigh- ton, Pennsylvania. He was born at Cherryville, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, September 25, 1790, and died at Lehighton, January 25, 1855.
Jacob Kuntz, father of John Kuntz, farmer and justice of the peace in Lynn and Towa-
mancing townships was born February 28, 1759, and died October 31, 1841.
Bernhard Kuntz, father of Jacob Kuntz, born December 3, 1723, died July 14, 1807. He and his two wives were buried in St. Paul's church- yard, about three miles from Weissport.
Mary Snyder Kuntz, wife of John Kuntz, born April 3, 1796, at Lehigh Gap, died January 15, 1880, at Weissport. She was buried by the side of her husband, in the cemetery near Weiss- port.
Jacob Snyder, father of Mary Kuntz, born January 28, 1762. He built a stone house and a mill, still standing on land inherited from his father. He died July 28, 1813, buried at St. John's church, Lower Towamencing township, Carbon county, Pennsylvania.
Anna Marya Bauman, wife of Jacob Snyder, born February 4, 1776, died March 28, 1864, buried at the Evangelical church (of which her son was pastor) about a mile south of St. John's church, on the road to Lehigh Gap.
Henry Bauman, father of Anna Marya Sny- der, was among the first settlers of Northampton county north of the Blue Mountains. He was born September 29, 1751, died November 27, 1824, and was buried at St. John's church, Lower Towamencing township, Pennsylvania. His wife was Catherine Dreisbach, born March 5, 1754, died August 28, 1825. She lies by the side of her husband.
ISAAC F. HERTZOG, a leading photog- grapher of Northampton county, conducting art studios in Nazareth, Pen Argyl, Bangor and Bath, was born near Kutztown, Pennsylvania, October 30, 1857.
He pursued his education in the common schools of his township and in the private school of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and on putting aside his text books began preparation for life's practi- cal and responsible duties by learning the photog- rapher's art under the direction of his father. He found the business congenial, and made rapid advancement until he had become very proficient in his chosen vocation. In 1877 he came to
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Nazareth with his father and opened a photo- graphic gallery, which he has since conducted. That his business has prospered is indicated by the fact that he has established branch galleries at Pen Argyl, Bangor and Bath. He keeps abreast with the constant improvement that is being made in the art, has a studio throughly equipped with the most important facilities, and as his work is artistic he has secured a desirable patronage. His enterprise in his business has enabled him to become the possessor of consider- able real estate, his capital being judiciously in- vested in property.
In politics Mr. Hertzog is a Republican. He is a member of the Mennonite Mission, and is much interested in the gift of healing, according to Cor. 1,12-9, doing great good through practice in that line. In 1882 he was married to Sarah M. Young, a widow of Henry Houch and a daughter of Peter Young, of Plainfield, North- ampton county. The only child of this mar- riage died in infancy.
WILLIAM H. MILLER, an active and pub- lic-spirited citizen of East Allen township, North- ampton county, Pennsylvania, where he is widely and favorably known as an enterprising business man, is a native of the section in which he now resides, his birth having occurred June 27, 1842. He is a descendant of a family of German ex- traction.
Christian Miller (grandfather) was born Feb- ruary 23, 1779. For many years he followed the occupation of tailor, at which he served an ap- prenticeship during his early youth, and having achieved success in his business career he was numbered among the inflential citizens of the community. He was a member of the Reformed church, and his political affiliations were with the old line Whig party. Mr. Miller married for his first wife Mary Moser, who bore him the follow- ing named children: Charles, Daniel, Nathan, Stephen, Abbie, Susan, Polly and Annie Miller. His sons all followed the same trade as their father, that of tailor. For his second wife Mr. Miller chose Miss Diffendorfer. His death oc-
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