USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 65
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April, 1759, he was joined in wedlock to Mary C. Loesch, a daughter of George and Ann C. (Wallborn) Loesch. She was born March 7, 1730, and became the mother of four children : Mary and John, who were born in Bethlehem, and John G. and Anna, who were born in Naz- areth, Pennsylvania. Johannes Lisher was a miller by occupation and followed his trade for some years. In 1774 he built the first house in Nazareth, and was actively identified with the development of that portion of the state. By the marriage of his children he became the grand- father of twenty-three grandchildren who became good and worthy citizens. He died May 12, 1782, and his wife passed away May 10, 1802, their remains being interred in the old Moravian bury- ing ground at Nazareth.
John Lesher, the grandfather of our subject. married Sarah Whitesell, and unto them were born eleven children who reached maturity and followed various useful and honorable vocations in life. Of this number Jacob Lesher, the father of our subject, was born on the banks of the Bush- kill in Palmer township, Northampton county, November 17, 1799. He was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Jackson, a daughter of Will- iam and Elizabeth (Levers) Jackson. Her father, Robert Levers was a patriotic soldier in the Revo- lutionary war and aided valiantly his country in her struggle for independence. He was acting paymaster of the Twelfth Pennsylvania Regi- ment, and subsequently became prothonotary of Northampton county. By trade Jacob Lesher was a carpenter, and became known as a good mechanic. He prospered in his work and was the owner of considerable property in Easton. He and his wife were devoted members of the Episcopal church. In their family were nine children : Ann E., Louise, Elizabeth, Mary, Thomas M., Emma, and three who have passed away.
Thomas M. Lesher, whose name introduces this record, was born in Bushkill street in Easton. November .9, 1840, and was here reared and edu- cated. He then learned the carpenter's trade, which. he followed for a number of years, and he became an extensive builder and contractor, erect-
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ing some of the finest structures in this city. In 1876, however, he abandoned his trade and be- came a general contractor in the construction of railroads, the erection of bridges and the comple- tion of waterworks and ways. He has been very successful, important contracts being awarded him, and his devotion to industrial pursuits and progressive measure have made him a leader in his line.
In 1859 Mr. Lesher was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Whitesell, of Easton, Pennsyl- vania, who was born in 1842. Their children are Franklin L., who was born July 30, 1860, and married Clara Young, by whom he had two chil- dren, Thomas M. and Raymond, but the latter is now deceased ; Mary C., who was born April 10, 1862, and is the wife of John H. Hughes; and Carrie, who was born November 18, 1869, and is now deceased.
Notwithstanding he has led a very busy life, Mr. Lesher put aside personal and business con- siderations during the dark days of the Civil war and cast in his lot with those who filled the ranks to defend the Union. He enlisted September 7, 1861, in the Fifth United States Artillery, and after serving creditably for fifteen months was honorably discharged and returned to his home. He has always been loyal in citizenship, and stands high in the estimation of the representa- tives of both political parties in Easton. Here he acceptably served as councilman, and his course was marked by loyal devotion to the city's wel- fare. He stands to-day in his mature years a strong man-strong in the consciousness of well spent years, strong to plan and perform, strong in his credit and good name, and a worthy ex- ample for young men to pattern after, as showing what intelligence and probity may accomplish in the way of success in life.
WILSON F. JORDAN. It may be asserted without fear of contradiction that no citizen of Bangor, Pennsylvania, is better known or more cordially liked and respected than Wilson F. Jor- dan. He belongs to a family of Scottish origin which was founded in this country, presumably,
in the latter part of the eighteenth century. The first ancestor who can be mentioned with cer- tainty is Frederick Jordan, who was the father of three sons : John, Henry, and James. Circum- stances seem to indicate that he was a resident of New Jersey. Of his three sons, John settled in Lehigh county, and James in Philadelphia.
Henry Jordan, mentioned above as the son of Frederick Jordan, was born in 1800 in Milford, New Jersey, and was a tanner by trade. He sub- sequently moved to Coopersburg, where he pur- chased a farm, and devoted himself thenceforth to agricultural pursuits, having abandoned the tanning business. He married Ellen Stair, and they were the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters. Of this number eight are now living and are residents of the Lehigh Val- ley. Mr. Jordan, the father of the family, died at his home in Lehigh county.
Milton Jordan, son of Henry and Ellen (Stair) Jordan, was born October 3, 1831, in Upper Milford, Lehigh county. He learned the trade of a carriage builder, which he made the business of his life, following it industriously, ably, and with strict regard to the principles of rectitude. His efforts were crowned with well- merited success and he became a wealthy man. He was much respected by his townsmen, who insisted upon his acceptance of several township offices. He married Deborah Kline, and they be- came the parents of three sons : Wilson F., men- tioned at length hereinafter; Oscar J., who is a practicing physician in Philadelphia; and Vic- tor K., who is engaged in the bottling business. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan are residents of Coopers- burg, where they are passing their declining years, which are brightened by the love of their children and grandchildren and by the society of their many friends.
Wilson F. Jordan, son of Milton and De- borah (Kline) Jordan, was born August 1, 1863, in Coopersburg, Lehigh county, where he re- ceived his education in the common schools. He and his two brothers were apprenticed by their father to learn the carriage builder's trade, his intention being that each one should acquire a
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certain branch of the business, Wilson F. becom- ing a trimmer. Subsequently, Mr. Jordan moved to Hellertown, where he engaged in business for himself. At the end of five years he removed in 1891 to Bangor, whre he purchased the Slate Valley Hotel, of which he was for five years the successful and popular proprietor. In 1896 he sold the property to his brother, Victor K., who subsequently transferred it to Dr. V. B. Weaver, its present owner and proprietor. The same year Mr. Jordan entered the bottling business, in which he is now engaged, his transactions being extensive and conducted with ability and energy. He is a director in the First National Bank of Bangor. Both as a man and a citizen he pos- sesses the full confidence and high regard of his neighbors, and, indeed, of the whole community, in the welfare of which he ever manifests a keen and practical interest, and which he en- deavors, by every means in his power, to further and preserve.
Mr. Jordan married, in 1882, Jennie L., who was born in Coopersburg, Lehigh county, daugh- ter of John S. and Eliza Stevens. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan are the parents of three children : Willis R., Oscar W., and John M., who is deceased. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Jordan is one of the social centers of Bangor and a point of attraction for a large circle of warm friends.
WILSON PETER LUDWIG, closely asso- ciated with business and public affairs in Allen- town, was born in South Whitehall township, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1857, a descendant from Matthias Ludwig, who landed at Castle Garden on the ship "Edinburgh," Cap- tain James Russell, on September 30, 1754. He is the only child of Charles W. and Amanda (Focht) Ludwig. The father was a son of Peter and Anna (Knauss) Ludwig, the mother a daugh- ter of Daniel Focht.
Wilson P. Ludwig acquired his education in the public schools, which he attended until six- teen years of age, when he entered the employ of the firm of Siegfried, Ludwig & Company to learn the hardware business. His father was one
of the partners in that enterprise, and Mr. Lud- wig remained with the house until 1875 when the partnership was dissolved and he became a salesman in the employ of the newly organized firm of Siegfried, Smith & Company. Later he was with Bittner, Hunsicker & Co., hosiery manu- facturers, with whom he continued until 1879, when he entered the employ of the firm of M. S. Young & Co., iron and hardware dealers, and was confidential clerk and buyer for the house until January, 1893, when he was admitted into part- nership. His associates in this enterprise are R. P. Steckel and Edward M. Young. The firm has steadily grown and is one of the leading commercial concerns of Allentown.
In affairs relating to the upbuilding and wel- fare of his city, Mr. Ludwig is deeply interested, especially in school matters. He is serving his second term as a member of the board of control of Allentown, and for years has been a school director of the seventh ward of said city. His political support is given the Republican party, and he is a member of Allen Lodge, No. 71, I. O. O. F., and St. John's English Lutheran church.
He wedded Mary C. Hagenbuch, a daughter of George and Barbara (Foelker) Hagenbuch, and a granddaughter of Jacob Hagenbuch. They have one son, Ralph G. Ludwig, who is associated with his father in the store.
JAMES NAGLE, the promoter of various industrial activities of Allentown, Pennsylvania, whereby he has contributed to the substantial growth and prosperity of the city, was born in the Lehigh Valley, East Allentown, now the First Ward of the city of Allentown, a son of Jacob and Margaret (Allbright) Nagle, and grandson on the paternal and maternal sides, re- spectively, of John and Mary (Savitz) Nagle, whose children, all of whom were born in the Lehigh Valley, were as follows: Jacob, Charles, George, Mary Hicker, Elizabeth Reinsmith, and Sarah Ochs ; and Henry and Margaret (Stauffer) Allbright, whose children, all of whom were born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, were as fol-
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
lows: Jacob, John, Margaret, aforementioned as the wife of Jacob Nagle; and Kitty Simpson.
Jacob Nagle( father) was married twice. His first wife, Margaret ( Allbright) Nagle, bore him thirteen children, and they have now fifty-two grandchildren and sixty-four great-grandchil- dren. His second wife was Molly (Schultz), Nagle. The names of his children are: I. Mary A., deceased. 2. Henry Jacob, deceased, whose wife, Abbie (Wieand) Nagle, bore him the fol- lowing named children : Harvey H., Walter J., Fred, William A., Emma J., Elizabeth R., Alice M., Lewis J., Bessie B., James G., Alfred, Bes- sie L., Matilda, Mable and Sarah; they were the grandparents of twenty-three children. 3. Mary, who became the wife of Jesse M. Young, and they have four children-Annie, Howard, George and Maggie-and seven grandchildren. 4. James, mentioned at length hereinafter. 5. Sarah A., deceased, who was the wife of Willoughby Butz, mother of three children-George F., James W., and Emma J .- and grandmother of six children. 6. Charles W., deceased. 7. John J., who mar- ried for his first wife, Sarah Deibert, and had two children-Allen and Willie-and his second wife, Flora (Folk) Nagle, and whose children are Claude, Harry, Elwood and .Norma. 8. Glory A., deceased, who was the wife of Charles Erich, and mother of one child, now . deceased. 9. Benjamin F., who married Sarah E. Yotter, and they are the parents of five children-Howard F., deceased, Charles H., Lottie J., William J., and Helen M .-- and grandparents of two children. IO. Josiah A., who married Mary Groff, and they are the parents of two children-Arthur and Clinton-and grandparents of seven children. II. Minerva A., who became the wife of Jeremiah Bartholomew, and their children are-Willie and Charles Bartholomew, both deceased. 12. Emma, who became the wife of Revere Woodring, and they are the parents of two children-Carrie and Mamie-and grandparents of one child. 13. Lovinia M., who married Joseph Abele, and they are the parents of five children-Charles, Mary, Lydia, Wilson and Robert-and grandparents of two children.
In early life James Nagle attended the public schools of Allentown, and then began working with his father, under whose instruction he mas- tered the trades of bricklaying, plastering and cement work. He followed this until he was twenty-four years of age, when he started out for himself and later became a contractor in the same lines. He had engaged in contracting for thirty years, when he admitted his son Jacob to a partnership under the firm name of James Nagle and son. In conjunction with building opera- tions they have been dealers in coal and builders' supplies, and have recently begun the manu- facture of cement bricks. Their work has not been confined to Allentown, but dotted over east- ern Pennsylvania are rows of houses, mills and factories, public school buildings, banks, munici- pal buildings, churches, and palatial residences, which demonstrate their superior skill of work- manship and rank them among the foremost builders. Their name has been connected with other municipal improvements.
This branch of the Nagle family is distinctly one of builders, for Jacob Nagle, the father of James Nagle, all his brothers, and with few ex- ceptions their sons, as well as his son Jacob have been engaged in some line of building operations.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Nagle en- listed in the Forty-first Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. After he was mustered out,of serv- ice, he resumed his business. He is a member of the Evangelical Association since childhood, and has served the church in various capacities. He is a charter member of Immanuel Evangelical church, Allentown.
Mr. Nagle was twice married. His first wife was Rosetta White, daughter of George and Hettie (Brown) White. George White, father of Mrs. Rosetta (White) Nagle, was twice mar- ried. His first wife was Hettie Brown, and their children are: Rosetta, aforementioned, Sarah, William, who married Lydia Trump, and their children are-George, Sarah, Frank, Kate, Annie, Tillie, Mary and James White, and O. F., who married Lizzie Wieand, and their children are: Thomas, deceased, John F., and Emma
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White; they have two grandchildren. George White married for his second wife Maria Roden- berger, nee Patterson, and their children are: Annastacia, Artemisia and Charles White. Mr. White is the grandfather of sixteen children.
The children of James Nagle and his wife Rosetta are: Anna Rosetta, Amanda Rebecca, George White, Jacob Allbright and Elsie Brown.
Anna R. is the wife of George H. Mealey, son of George and Sarah Reinhard Mealey. Es- telle, Florence, Mabel, Lillie, William and John are their children. Helen and George are de -. ceased.
Amanda R. is the wife of Orin C. Donecker, son of William and Elizabeth (Reinhard) Donecker. Their children are Bessie, Florence, Jessie and Orin Charles (all deceased) and Blanche, Rosetta and Elsie.
George W. Nagle is married to Laura Hen- ninger, daughter of Franklin and Caroline (Guth) Henninger. They have one daughter, May. George W. is the "Art Printer" and has a well established business.
Jacob A. Nagle is married to Minnie Boll- man, daughter of George and Agnes (Womels- dorf) Bollman. Their daughter, Agnes Rosetta, is deceased.
Elsie B. Nagle is a teacher in the public schools of Allentown.
His second wife is Maria (Repp Hamersley) Nagle. Mr. Nagle has passed the three score years, and is still actively engaged in work.
BAXTER BURDER MCCLURE, of East Allen township, Northampton county, has for many years been prominently identified with agri- cultural interests in the Lehigh Valley, and be- longs to an old family that has long been actively connected with this line of activity. He is of Scotch-Irish ancestry on both the paternal and maternal side. The founder of the McClure fam- ily in America came from the north of Ireland and settled in Chester county, Pennsylvania, while other members of the family located in the south- ern states, and the immediate kindred of B. B. McClure were for some years residents of North
Carolina. Scotch blood came into the family through intermarriage.
Benjamin McClure, a son of John and Jane McClure, was born in Nantmeal township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1759. He was reared upon a farm and followed the occupation of farming throughout his entire life. He was married, February 12, 1784, to Agnes Wallace, a daughter of Robert and Mary Wallace, whose name indicates the Scotch origin of the family. Their children were Robert, Jane, Mary, Betsy, John and William Wallace. Of these Mary and John settled in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania ; Betsy in Clearfield county, and the others in Chester county.
William Wallace McClure was born in Nant- meal township, Chester county, in June, 1795. He obtained a common-school education and worked for a year at the carpenter's trade near Wrightsville, Pennsylvania. In 1823 he pur- chased the property, comprising the farm and store, which has since been known as Brandywine Manor. He engaged in merchandising for twelve years, then in farming for ten years, and for more than four decades served as postmaster. He was married in 1825 to Elizabeth Hays Grier, a daughter of John and Jane (Hays) Grier, of Northampton county, where her ancestors settled at a very early day. They, too, were Scotch-Irish, and their home was in what was known as the Irish Settlement. The three eldest children of W. W. and Elizabeth McClure died in childhood-Agnes Wallace, born in 1826, died in 1830: a son died in infancy in 1827; Jane Eliza, born in 1828, died in 1832. Agnes Wallace, the second of the name, born April 1, 1831, is the widow of Dr. N. G. Thompson, of Coatesville. Caroline Hays was born April 20, 1833. J. Grier, born June 7, 1835, served in the Civil war, was a merchant and post- master at Brandywine Manor and died in 1901. Baxter B. was the next of the family. Clarissa, the youngest, was born September 10, 1839. Will- iam Wallace McClure, the father, died in August, 1874, his wife September 3. 1863. He was a trustee of the Presbyterian church, filled various
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political offices, and gave his political support to the Whig party until he joined the ranks of the Republican party soon after its organization.
Baxter Burder McClure was born at Brandy- wine Manor, Chester county, Pennsylvania, May 29, 1837, and in his youth became thoroughly familiar with agricultural pursuits. After leav- ing the common schools he was a student in Howard Academy at Rockville, Pennsylvania, and for three terms he engaged in teaching. He next embarked in business as a partner of Isaac R. Buchanan in the queensware and crockery trade in Philadelphia, and after two years re- turned to the home farm in Chester county, which he cultivated for eight years. In 1879 he removed to Northampton county and settled in his present home in East Allen township, near Bath. This is one of the finest farms of the county, and Mr. McClure is one of the most prosperous agricul- turist-a result which is due to his earnest ef- forts and keen discrimination in business matters.
Mr. McClure has always been deeply inter- ested in the progress of his state along agricul- tural lines, and for a number of years has been a member of the state board of agriculture. He has also served on the executive committee of the Nazareth Fair Association for fifteen years. Prominent and influential in Republican circles, he has several times been the Republican candi- date for the state legislature, but his party is too greatly in the minority in this district for its candidates to win.
Mr. McClure was married, March 19, 1872, to Miss Sally Horner, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Wilson) Horner, of East Allen town- ship, Northampton county. They belong to the Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as elder. His manner is genial, and his unfailing courtesy and deference for the opinions of others have made him a popular citizen.
DR. FRANKLIN JACOB HAHN, of Bath, Pennsylvania, who by the combined force of pro- fessional ability and unquestioned character has won for himself an enviable position in the ranks of his medical brethren of Northampton county, is a grandson of John Hahn, who was born No-
vember 15, 1799, in Bushkill township. His trade, which was that of a mason, he followed in- dustriously all his life. His political opinions and principles were those of the Democrats of his time. He was a member of the Reformed church. He married, October 8, 1820, Lydia Marsh, who was born November 15, 1801, in Bushkill town- ship, and they were the parents of the following children : Stephen, who was born September 15, 1822, was a mason, and died February 12, 1897; John, who was born November 29, 1827, was a blacksmith and died January II, 1904. Richard, who was born October 25, 1829, was a mason, and died December 18, 1879; Catherine Ann, who was born January 2, 1832, and became the wife of Joseph Keim of Bloomsburg, Columbia county, Pennsylvania; Jackson, who was born October 28, 1835, was formerly a blacksmith, and is now a farmer in St. Joseph county Michigan ;. Freeman, who was born January 8, 1838, and died February 7, 1842; Reuben, mentioned at length hereinafter. Mr. Hahn, the father of this family, died April 24, 1858, and his wife survived him many years, passing away February 10, 1890. Both possessed the sincere respect and affection not only of their children and grandchildren but also of their many friends, and of all who were in any way associated with them.
Reuben Hahn, son of John and Lydia (Marsh) Hahn, was born December 12, 1844, in Forks township, where he received his education in the common schools. At the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to his brother Jackson to learn the blacksmith's trade, and after serving two years began to work as a journeyman. At the. end of another two years he engaged in business for himself in Bethlehem township, remaining there one year. He then returned to Forks town- ship and purchased his brother Jackson's busi- ness, which he conducted until 1877, when he moved to Nazareth. He there followed the blacksmith's trade, and at the same time con- ducted a wagon manufactory. For twenty-five years he was engaged in these two branches of industry, the result testifying both to his busi- ness ability and practical skill. In 1902 he re- tired, after a business career of forty years, a
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period which he had made fruitful not merely in financial profit but in the establishment of an enduring reputation for honorable dealing. As a citizen no less than as a business man, Mr. Hahn was universally esteemed, being elected by his neighbors a member of the town council, and also serving as school director. Although not now the incumbent of any office, his influence in local affairs is felt in many ways, and always on the side of progress and rectitude. His political affiliations are with the Democrats. He is a member of the Reformed church, in which he holds the office of elder, and in which he is a zealous worker.
Mr. Hahn married, October 27, 1866, Emma L., born October 4, 1841, in Lower Saucon town- ship, daughter of Jacob and Susanna (Boehm) Rath. Mr. and Mrs. Hahn are the parents of three children: Mary Camilla, who was born January 27, 1868, married, January 4, 1888, to Howard Werkheiser of Nazareth, and has three children; Homer Reuben, Paul Franklin, and Nevin Ezra ; Franklin Jacob, mentioned at length hereinafter ; Ezra Allen, who was born September 26, 1882, and is now a dental practitioner in Nazareth, at the home of his father.
Franklin Jacob Hahn, son of Reuben and Emma L. (Rath) Hahn, was born September 18. 1870, in Forks township, where he received his primary education in the common schools. He afterward attended the Nazareth High School, from which he graduated in 1886, being a mem- ber of the first class graduated from that institu- tion. After a course of private instruction from Professor Frank Huth he entered the Keystone Normal School, from which he graduated in 1890. While pursuing this course of study, he engaged in 1887 and 1888 in school teaching in Seipsville, Pennsylvania, and in 1891 and 1892 was an in- structor in the Nazareth High School. Feeling his vocation in life to be the medical profession, he pursued his studies under the preceptorship of Dr. Thomas Cope, of Nazareth, and in 1895 re- ceived from Jefferson Medical College of Phila- delphia the degree of Doctor of Medicine. For ยท one year he held the position of resident physician
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