USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 75
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Of this number Ludwig Meckley was the father of William H. H. Meckley. He was born in Lehigh county in 1806, and became extensively engaged in farming, accumulating a handsome competence and much valuable property during the life of intense and well-directed activity. He took a helpful interest in the Reformed church, to which he and his wife belonged, and served as one of its deacons. He married Miss Elizabeth Wieand, who was born in Lehigh county in 1812. His death occurred in 1855, while his wife, long surviving him, passed away in 1892. Their fam- ily numbered two sons, William H. H. and John
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J. L. The latter was born near Alburtis, on the IIth of October, 1847.
William H. H. Meckley was reared and edu- cated in his native township. and in his youth be- came familiar with the labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist by working upon his father's farm, which was one of the finest in Lower Ma- cungie. He continued to follow agricultural pur- suits with excellent profit until 1890, and became the owner of the old homestead, and also of the Rothrocksville Hotel. In addition to this he is the owner of a flouring mill in Long Swamp. township, which is in operation, Mr. Meckley em- ploying a practical miller to carry on the busi- ness. In 1890 he retired from active farm life, and now merely gives his attention to the super- vision of his property interests. He has served his township as school director. He and his wife are members of the Reformed church.
On the 14th of March, 1868, Mr. Meckley was united in marriage to Miss Elemanda W. Wagenhorst, and they became the parents of a daughter, Ellen L. The wife and mother died in 1896. On the 14th of April, 1900, Mr. Meckley married Miss Emma Geisinger. Their only child is deceased.
B. S. ERWIN, M. D. The Erwin family, of which Dr. B. S. Erwin, a graduate of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, and a practicing physi- cian of Mauch Chunk, Carbon county, Pennsyl- vania, is a representative member, is of Scotch- Irish origin. The pioneer ancestor, the great- grandfather of Dr. Erwin, came to this country prior to the Revolutionary war, in which he served in the capacity of colonel. A long list of the name appears on the roster of soldiers in that war, many as privates and many as officers, among them General Erwin. Washington Irv- ing was related to this family. The immigrant ancestor obtained a grant of land in New York for his services in the Revolutionary war, and this was known as Erwin Center.
John Francis Erwin, father of Dr. Erwin. was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, and moved to Bethlehem when ten years of age. Early in life he learned the tanning and currying trade in Beth-
lehem, with Joseph Leibert, and this he followed successfully up to about 1852, operating a large currier establishment at Bethlehem and a tannery in Monroe county. Later his dealings were in real estate, and his keen foresight enabled him to make profitable investments. Mr. Erwin was a very quiet, pious and peaceful man, a member of the Moravian church, a Democrat in politics, and his fraternal affiliations were with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows in his early man- hood. He married Johanetta Louisa Schneider, daughter of the Moravian miller, John Schneider, of Bethlehem, and his wife, Katharine (Seyfried) Schneider. John Schneider was famous in his day as the maker of Putz, or Kris Kringle toys for Christmas time. His toy houses carved out of wood, and miniature water falls, and his wonder- ful skill, won for him a reputation as a genius in mechanical ability. He made models for wax figures and other objects from which Mrs. Jedediah Weiss made molds, and cast the figures and toys. He was largely instrumental, also, in maintaining an interest in the old Dutch Kris Kringle legendary lore of the Yuletide season.
The following named children were born to Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Erwin: 1. Ambrose John, now deceased, who kept a general store at Bethle- hem, Pennsylvania, being a member of the firm of Erwin & Krause, and who later removed to Staten Island. He married Mary Clauder, and their children were : Dr. Frank H., Martha, Anna, Charles, deceased ; Carrie (who became the wife of Harry Wilbur, son of Warren Wilbur, of Bethlehem) ; and William. 2. Mary Catherine, who became the wife of Horace B. Jones, of Phil- adelphia, conducting a book and stationery store at Bethlehem. They were the parents of one daughter. Florence Louise, deceased. 3. William A., who married Miss Ella Amanda. daughter of Dr. Kast, of Weissport, Carbon county. Their children were : Louisa, wife of Joel Tengate, born at Phoenixville : Edith, deceased ; and Harold, de- ceased. 4. Edward Francis, who is a skilled jew- eler and watchmaker at Bethlehem. having learned his trade with the renowned jeweler, John MI. Miksch, of Bethlehem. John Francis Erwin, father of these children. died February 8. 1883,
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at his home in Bethlehem, and his wife passed away March 10, 1883.
Dr. B. S. Erwin was born May 30, 1845, in the old brick homestead on Broad street, Bethle- hem, where all the children were born. He at- tended the Moravian day school (parochial) until sixteen years of age, and in this manner acquired an excellent preparatory education. He then en- tered the employ of E. T. Meyers, proprietor of a drug store, remaining four years, and at the ex- piration of this period of time was employed in a drug store in the city of Philadelphia, conducted by Charles Ellis, Son & Co., the successors to John Marshall, the first druggist in Philadelphia. The store was located at Market and Seventh streets. Mr. Ellis was president of the Phila- delphia College of Pharmacy at the time, and Dr. Erwin pursued a course in that institution, graduating in 1867, after which he matriculated in the Uinversity of Pennsylvania, from which he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1871. During that year he engaged in private practice in Bethlehem, but the following year (1872) removed to Mauch Chunk, where he has since conducted an extensive general practice. During the years 1889 and 1890 he pursued a course of study of the eye, ear, nose and throat, at Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany. For thirty-two years he has been one of the leading physicians of Mauch Chunk, and during this long period of time, has seen many members of the medical pro- fession come and go. Dr. Erwin is a member of the United States Pension Examining Board, the Lehigh Valley Medical Association, is surgeon of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, and also serves in the same capacity for a number of in- surance companies. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum.
Dr. Erwin married Florence Somers Cook, daughter of Dr. Charles Cook, a prominent physi- cian of Jersey City, New Jersey. They occupy a handsome residence, which stands on a hillside and commands a fine view of the town, among the mountains. It is unique in being built of rough stone, just as it comes from the quarry, and the external appearance is attractive, and of original design. It has frequently been photographed by
visitors to that section. Dr. Erwin is well in- formed on general topics, is of a studious disposi- tion, and possesses a very alert and active mind. He is a most interesting conversationalist, is witty and fond of a joke, and also historical rem- iniscences, of which he possesses a rich store. He is an ardent advocate of a National University and National Degree in Medicine, also of a Bu- reau of National Hygiene, and of Manual Train- ing schools. He has also had practical experi- ence in the introduction of sericulture among the farmers and laborers, following the renewed gov- ernment activity in the industry. Children of Dr. and Mrs. Erwin: A daughter, Johanetta Louisa, died in 1891, after a prolonged illness, aged eleven years. Bertine Francis, an only son, at present at the University of Pennsylvania an- ticipating degrees in arts and science, also medi- cine. His age is twenty years.
LAVENE SCHORTZ, a farmer of Hanover township, Northampton county, resides upon the old family homestead which was purchased by his grandfather, George Schortz, in the early part of the nineteenth century. George Schortz was a native of Lower Nazareth, and throughout his entire life carried on agricultural pursuits. He was a Lutheran in his religious faith, and in his political affiliations was a Whig. He died at the advanced age of eighty years. The children were Reuben, Mary Ann and Rebecca.
Reuben Schortz, the father of Lavene Schortz, was born on the old homestead in 1816, and early became familiar with the duties of field and meadow as he assisted in the operation of his father's land. He succeeded to the old homestead and throughout his entire business career carried on farming. He belonged to the Lutheran church, and died in that faith April 11, 1896. His wife bore the maiden name of Anna Maria De- walt, and was a daughter of Jonas Dewalt, of Mount Bethel township, Northampton county. They had eight children : Asher, Mary Ann, Su- sanna, Lavene, James, Eliza, Elmina and Amanda.
Lavene Schortz was born on the old family homestead January 2, 1850, and, like his father,
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was here reared, and succeeded to the ownership of the property. While his life has been quietly passed, his record is one of industry, persever- ance and capable management, guided by unfal- tering honesty in all business transactions. Politi- cally he is a Republican, while socially he is iden- tified wth the Improved Order of Red Men, and religiously with the Lutheran church. He was married September 26, 1879, to Catherine Meyer, who was born in Bushkill township, August 7, 185I, a daughter of Abraham and Lucy ( Young) Meyer. By this marriage there was one child. Martha R. By a former marriage Mrs. Schortz had a daughter, Eva Snyder, who married Edgar Fehnel, and has two children, Leo and Roscoe.
ANDREW B. JOHNSON. Among the families who have promoted the prosperity of Northampton county through agricultural pur- suits is the Johnson family, of which Andrew B. Johnson is a representative, and who follows the occupation of his ancestors. His grandfather, Martin Johnson, was born in Palmer township, Northampton county, on the old family home- stead, and in his youth pursued the common branches of English learning in the common schools. He made farming his life work, and married Margaret Knechdt, also a native of Palmer township.
John Johnson, a son of Martin and Margaret Johnson, was born on the old family homestead in Palmer township in 1826, and died in 1897. On leaving school he devoted his entire attention to farming, having in the meantime spent his vaca- tions in the work of field and meadow. Through- out his business career he engaged in the tilling of the soil. In politics he was a Democrat, but never sought or desired office. At the time of the Civil war he was drafted for service, but feeling that he could not leave his farm he sent a substi- tute. He married Susanna Johnson, a daughter of William and Mary Johnson, the former a farmer of Lower Nazareth township, Northamp- ton county. Unto this marriage were born six children : Andrew B .; Sabilla, who married Frank Gold, by whom she had eight children; Martin, wedded Amanda Messinger, by whom he had two
children ; James, who wedded Ellen Knecht, and had eight children; Emma, who wedded Harvey Meixell, and is the mother of three children; Abbasena, who first wedded Benjamin Schortz, by whom she had two children, and later married Thomas Dornblaser, by whom she has four children.
Andrew B. Johnson was born January 26, 1857, in his parents' home in Palmer township, but the same year they moved to Lower Nazareth township, taking up their abode on the farm which is now the place of residence of Andrew B. Johnson. At the usual age he entered the pub- lic schools, and when he had completed a course of study there he took his place at the plow, and has since been engaged in the development of his fields. He votes with the Democracy, and has held a number of township offices. He and his family attend the Reformed church.
In 1878 he married Ellen Fehr, whose father, Henry Fehr, was an agriculturist of Bushkill township, Northampton county. Her mother bore the maiden name of Catherine Marsh. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had three children, but Floyd, the second child, born in 1888, died in infancy. The daughters are Edna, born in 1879, and Lizzie, born in 1889.
ABSALOM MUSSELMAN, who owns and manages a farm in Lower Nazareth township, upon which he has continually resided since 1884, was born in East Allen township, Northampton county, November 14, 1845. His father, Peter Musselman, was also a native of that township, and was a student in its public schools in his boy- hood days. He afterward engaged in farming on what was then the old family homestead, and throughout his entire business career devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party, and he was a recognized leader in many movements that tended to benefit his township. He married Miss Catherine Kreidler, also a native of East Allen township, and the children of this mar- riage were Absalom, Joseph, Harrison, Reuben, Samuel, Thomas, Alonzo, Marie, Sabina, Amanda and William. The last named is deceased.
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
Absalom Musselman entered the public schools at the usual age, and when not engaged with the duties of the schoolroom was largely employed at farm work on the old homestead, where he lived with his father until 1866. He then learned the miller's trade, which he followed for eighteen consecutive years, living successively in Freemansburg. Easton and again in Freemans- burg. In 1884 he removed to his present home in Lower Nazareth township, and has since been connected with agricultural pursuits. Mr. Mus- selman is deeply interested in the political ques- tions of the day, and gives an unfaltering sup- port to the Republican party, but has always pre- ferred to aid his country as a private citizen rather than as an official, and has refused to become a candidate for various township offices. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and is a member of the Lutheran church, while his wife attends the Reformed church.
In 1871 he married Fietta E. Walton, who was born November 22, 1836. Her father, William Walton, was a resident farmer of Lower Nazareth township, and wedded Mary Kunkle. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Musselman have been born two chil- dren : William A., who was born in September, 1873, and died February 5, 1874; Annie C., who was born in 1875 and is the wife of Harry. F. George, by whom she has two children; and Ruth I. and Grace A., who are at home.
CHARLES INSLEY BERLIN. secretary and treasurer of the Bath Foundry and Machine Company of Bath, Pennsylvania, is a son of Dr. James Oliver Berlin, who for a number of years successfully pursued his profession in the Lehigh Valley. The family has long figured in Pennsyl- vania in connection with lines of business activity that have been a benefit to the state.
The great-grandfather, Isaac B. Berlin, was one of the colonial settlers of Northampton county, and the village of Berlinsville was named in honor of the family. The grandparents, Charles and Mary A. (Brown) Berlin, were both born in Northampton county, and were highly esteemed citizens. The father, a mechanic, pur- sued his trade in Lehigh township, Northampton
county for a number of years. His son, Dr. James O. Berlin, was born at Berlinsville, Sep- tember 30, 1847, and was one of a family of three sons and four daughters. His early education was acquired in the public schools of his native town and subsequently he became a student in the Freeland Seminary at Freeland, Pennsylvania, and his more advanced education along literary lines was obtained in Palatinate College at Myers- town. He then engaged in teaching school, fol- lowing the profession for four years in Lehigh township, Northampton county, but he regarded this merely as an initiatory step to further pro- fessional labor, and in 1872 became a student in the office and under the direction of Dr. W. H. Seip, of Bath, Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1872 he matriculated in Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, and was graduated in 1874 on the completion of the regular course. Several years. later he pursued a post-graduate course in the same institution. In August following his grad- uation he opened an office at Chapman's Quarries. and became resident surgeon to the Chapman slate quarries. Owing to ill health he was forced to relinquish his practice there in 1886, and for a short time he lived retired from active life. In 1888 he resumed the practice of medicine in Bath,. where he remained until 1899, when ill health again forced him to leave the profession and his practice was given over to the charge of Dr. Frank J. Hahn. He gradually failed, and in January, 1903, he went to Philadelphia to enter- the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. While there on the 19th of March he suffered a. stroke of apoplexy and died five days later.
While in Bath, Dr. Berlin was very active in both religious and business circles. He served as a director of the First National Bank of Bath, and while at Chapman's Quarry he filled the office of burgess, and was likewise a member of the board of education and of the town council. A very faithful and devoted member of the Pres- byterian church he served as one of its active workers in the Sunday school and in the choir for many years. Socially he was connected with Monocacy Lodge, F. and A. M., and in the line- of his profession was identified with the Lehigh
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Valley Medical Association, the Medical Society of Northampton County and the State and Na- tional Medical Associations. He was married May 23, 1876, to Elizabeth M. Insley, a native of Northampton county, and a daughter of Isaac B. Insley, of Bath, Pennsylvania, who was formerly of East Allen township.
Charles Insley Berlin, their only son, was born at Chapman's Quarries, December 30, 1879, and pursued his preliminary education in the public schools of Bath and the Lehigh preparatory school. He afterward spent one term in Lehigh University, and afterward was graduated in the South Bethlehem Business College. He is now secretary and treasurer of the Bath Foundry and Machine Company, of which his father was one of the organizers. He is a trustee of the Presby- terian church, a member of the Knights of Malta, and in politics is an independent Democrat.
On November 25. 1903, he was married to Anna M., daughter of Rev. Alfred and Tillie M. Heebner, of Philadelphia, and on October 31, 1904, they were blessed with a son, Insley Heeb- ner Berlin, which completes four generations in the house.
ISAAC BARBER INSLEY, a successful farmer and honored citizen of East Allen town- ship, is a grandson of Godfrey Insley, who was a native of New Jersey, and a lifelong farmer. He was a member of the Lutheran church. The name of his wife was Barbara Fine. Mr. Insley, who was a good man, much respected by all his neigh- bors, died March 5, 1864, at an advanced age. His wife died March 26, 1855.
Philip Fine Insley, son of Godfrey and Bar- bara (Fine) Insley, was born April 7, 1800, in New Jersey, was reared on the homestead, and obtained his education in the common schools. In 1830 he moved to Northampton county, Penn- sylvania, where he purchased the old Horner homestead in East Allen township. He devoted himself for the remainder of his life to the cul- tivation of his farm, in which he was in all re- spects very successful. He was active in all the duties of a citizen, affiliating in the sphere of pol-
itics with the Democratic party. He attended the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Insley married Elizabeth Barber, whose birth occurred, strange to say, on the same day as his own. The following children were born to them : Isaac Barber, mentioned at length here- inafter ; Mary Margaret, who was born Septem- ber 9, 1824, married Nesmuth F. Manly and moved to Wisconsin, where both she and her husband died; Elizabeth, who was born March 15, 1826, and died in childhood. Mrs. Insley, the mother of these children, died the latter part of March, 1826, and Mr. Insley married Henri- etta, born December 5, 1814, daughter of James Horner. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Insley : Jane, March 1I, 1836, and married George J. Kuntz; Esther Ann, October 5, 1838, and is the widow of Samuel J. Berger, of Bath ; Maria, December 1, 1842, and resided on the homestead until April, 1904, when she moved to Bath ; Emma, April 2, 1846, and is the wife of Colonel John Craig, of Lehigh Gap. Alice, July 18, 1849, and resided on the homestead with her sister mentioned above until April, 1904, when she also moved to Bath ; Clara, July 18, 1851, married Frank Warman, and has one daughter, Bessie. Mrs. Warman died January 16, 1904. Martha, who was born March 21, 1856, and died April 20, 1889. Mr. Insley, the father of the family, died May 1, 1878, deeply and sin- cerely regretted, not only by his family and near friends but by the whole community of which he had been for so many years an honored member. His wife, who expired March 19, 1901, was truly mourned by her many friends, while to her fam- ily her loss was irreparable.
Isaac Barber Insley, son of Philip Fine and Elizabeth (Barber) Insley, was born September 8, 1822, in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and was eight years old when his parents moved to Pennsylvania. He received his education in the common schools of East Allen township, and until reaching manhood remained on the home- stead assisting his father in the labors of the farm. In 1860 he purchased the old "Colonel Thomas McKeen farm," where he has since fol-
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lowed agricultural pursuits with a gratifying measure of success. While Mr. Insley's abilities as an agriculturist are undisputed, and he has for many years been recognized as a leader among the farmers of the county, his talents as a finan- cier and his sterling worth of character are no less appreciated. This is evident from the fact that for forty years he was one of the directors of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company. For three years he served as director of the poor. He has ever been conscientiously attentive to all the duties of good citizenship, and no worthy cause has appealed to him in vain. His political principles are those of an earnest Democrat. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Insley married, September 27, 1849, Susan A., daughter of Joseph and sister of Henry F. Steckel, the former of Bath, and the latter of Easton. Mr. and Mrs. Insley were the parents of two children: Elizabeth Minerva, who was born October 28, 1855, and May 23, 1876, became the wife of the late Dr. James O. Berlin; and Henry Barber, who was born October 10, 1858, and died February 3, 1872. Mr. Insley and his family have been deeply afflicted by the death of the wife and mother, who passed away July 13, 1897, her loss being felt as a personal bereave- ment by a large circle of friends.
MILTON PETER SCHANTZ, lawyer and postmaster of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was the eighth child in the family of John and Elizabeth (Meyer) Schantz.
The founder of the family in America was John Schantz, whose name is upon the record in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, upon the arrival of emigrants from Germany, October 1, 1770. He was the father of four sons-Jacob, Philip, John and Henry. Of this family Jacob Schantz was born in 1761, and he became the father of three sons and six daughters-Jacob, Peter, John, Mrs. Mohr, Mrs. Henninger, Mrs. Helfriet, Mrs. Fisher and two sisters, who married a man by the name of Shimer. Philip Schantz, the second son of the founder of the family, had a number of children, including Philip, Henry, John, Mrs. Snyder, two Mrs. Kecks, Sarah, and one child
whose name is not recorded. John and Henry Schantz, the other two sons of the founder .of the family, settled at the Trappe, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and their descendants were found there in recent years.
John Schantz, son of Philip Schantz, was the grandfather of Milton P. Schantz, and his son John became the father of Milton P. Schantz. John Schantz (father) married Elizabeth Meyer, a
daughter of Peter Meyer, whose wife bore the maiden name of Gungawere. John and Elizabeth ( Meyer) Schantz became the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters : I. Mary, the wife of William Moyer, by whom she had two children, now deceased. 2. John Benjamin Franklin, who married Cornelia Pearson, and their children were: William, who died in childhood; Frank, Mattie, Howard, Fred, Lee, Mary, Harry, who died in infancy; Lillian, and Evalyn, who died at the age of nine years. 3. Paul, deceased, who married Esther Searle, also deceased, and had two children, George and Paul. 4. Charles O., who married Amanda Kline, and their children are: John T., who married Gertrude Koehler ; Alice E., Charles O., Jr., William D., who mar- ried Helen Laury; Hattie A., Edgar J., Robert K., and Dorothy, who died in childhood. 5. Martha, who resides at the home of her brother, Milton P. Schantz. 6. Catherine, wife of Lewis Seifert, by whom she has six children: Mary, Sarah, John, Charles, Helen, and Anna. 7. Sa- rah, wife of George Eberhardt, by whom she has six children : Raymond, Ralph, Augustus, Mamie, Martha, and Harold. 8. Milton P., men- tioned at length hereinafter.
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