USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 76
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Milton P. Schantz began his education in the public schools, and during that time carried the morning papers. Subsequently he attended a business college, and as his parents were in lin- ited financial.circumstances he received his tui- tion for his services of sweeping and keeping in order the school, and also by working in the book store of Brobst, Deihl & Co. He thus manifested the elemental strength of his character, showing the strong purpose which has been one of the salient features in his life history. On March 23,
M.P. Schaut
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1898, he was appointed postmaster of Allentown, and while filling the duties of the position took up the study of law, devoting his evening hours to the mastery of the principles of jurisprudence. He read law in the office and under the direction of Hon. Robert E. Wright, and December 22, 1902, was admitted to the bar. In the period of time which has since elapsed he has secured a lucrative practice, and has been connected with the trial of important litigated interests. March 26, 1902, he was again appointed postmaster, and is now filling the office for the second term to the entire satisfaction of the general public. Prominent in Allentown as a progressive and public-spirited citizen, he has been honored by his fellow townsmen with official preferment. In 1887-88 he was a member of the common coun- cil; in 1890 was elected to the office of county auditor ; and in 1893 became a member of the select council from the third ward of Allentown. In 1895 he was appointed president of the coun- cil, presiding over its deliberations until his ap- pointment as postmaster in 1898. His official record is indeed creditable, being characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty. He possesses un- faltering purpose and laudable ambition, and has already attained a prominent place in professional circles as well as in the regard of his many friends.
Mr. Schantz was married to Miss Catherine Dotts, and this union was blessed by the birth of six children : Harold, Catherine, Milton Philip, who died in infancy ; Earle, Lewis, and Marcus Perry, who died in infancy. On the paternal side Mrs. Schantz is a granddaughter of Henry and Margaret Dotts, and on the maternal side of John and Judith Roeder. Her parents are Charles and Judith (Roeder) Dotts, whose union was blessed with the following named children: I. Clement L. V., who married Emma L. Dellicker, and their children are: Russel M. and Lester E. Dotts. 2. Catherine O., mentioned above as the wife of Milton P. Schantz. 3. C. Virginia, who became the wife of Jerome Hummel, and their children are: Ethel V. and Ralph Hummel. 4. B. Frank, who married Annie Pentz, and their child, Vincent H., is now deceased. 5. O. Victor.
6. A. Irene. 7. M. Winnifred. 8. E. Pearl, who became the wife of Frank C. Ermalin. 9. M. Gertrude, deceased. 10. Grace Elizabeth, de- ceased. II. Charles Herbert, deceased.
EDWIN F. GERMAN. The prosperity of a community depends largely on the character of its business men, and if these are able and ener- getic the vital current set in motion by their activ- ity diffuses itself through every part of the social system. To this class of business men belongs Edwin F. German, of Heidelberg township, Le- high county.
Adam German, born March 31, 1811, died November 8, 1881, was a native of this township, and was educated there in the common schools, and all his life followed agricultural pursuits. He married Elizabeth Snyder, born January 1, 1819, died April 18, 1895, a native of Lynn township, county aforesaid. Their children were: John, mentioned at length hereinafter; Daniel, born February 1, 1841; Harris, born July 11, 1843; Leana, born November 4, 1844, died October 25, 1861 ; Arie, born September 30, 1846, died Sep- tember 13, 1847 ; Sabina, born December 23, 1847, died September 30, 1849; Edwin, born Sep- tember 21, 1849; Susan, born March 29, 1851 ; Amanda, born August 16, 1853 ; Nathen, born April 7, 1855, died February 3, 1900; Mary, born August 25, 1857; S. Louisa, born October 21, 1860; Henry A., born March 30, 1862, died July 8, 1900. Mr. German, the father of this family, was a man of sound judgment and irre- proachable character. He prospered to such a degree that he was considered to be one of the wealthiest men in the township.
John German, son of Adam and Elizabeth (Snyder) German, was born May 22, 1839, died February 27, 1873. He received his education in the common schools of the township, and learned the carpenter trade, which he followed during the remainder of his life. He was a su- perior workman, and helped to construct many of the houses in the township. He was much es- teemed by his neighbors, who elected him to various minor offices. He married Sarah Clause of the same township, and they were the parents
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of one child, Edwin F., mentioned at length here- inafter. Mr. German died at the age of thirty- three. Although so young, he was already pos- sessed of a well established reputation for indus- try, good judgment and sterling worth of char- acter. He was sincerely respected and cordially liked by all who knew him, and his honor still lives among the living. Some years after the death of her husband, Mrs. German married Daniel Kistler (justice of the peace) of Schuyl- kill county, Pennsylvania, where they now reside.
Edwin F. German, only child of John and Sarah (Clause) German, was born April 4, 1864, on the old homestead in Heidelberg township, where he obtained his education in the common schools until reaching the age of fifteen. He de- voted himself to the cultivation of the parental farm and accompanied his mother to Schuylkill county, and there remained, leading the life of an industrious farmer, and also operated several portable saw mills with which he traveled through different counties doing custom work for lumber contractors. He also had a portable steam threshing machine, traveling around from harvesting until new year threshing grain for the farmers. At the same time he conducted several farms, a bone mill and steam cider press, which was his leading business in the season. Some customers came as far as from twelve to fifteen miles to have their cider made.
Mr. German has always been busy, and takes an active interest in whatever pertains to the wel- fare of the community in which he resides, and his neighbors have testified to their confidence in him by electing him to the offices of auditor and collector of taxes for the county and township, which he has held for years.
In April, 1904, Mr. Edwin F. German rented away his farms in Schuylkill county, and at that time, being the owner of some dwelling houses, a general store and an up-to-date planing mill in Heidelberg township, and feeling an inclination for a commercial career, he returned to the region which had been the home of his ancestors, and assumed the proprietorship of his store and planing mill, which he was conducting for the
last four years. During the said time he manu- factured and shipped large quantities of fine ma- terial to different parts of the state. Although but a short time has elapsed since the change, he has prospered to a degree which convinces both himself and the community that he made no mis- take in abandoning agriculture for commerce. His store is situated at German's Corner, a place which was named in honor of his family. He and his family attend the Lutheran church.
Mr. German married, September 12, 1885, Viola, daughter of Joseph M. and Polly Zimmer- man, a farmer of West Penn township, Schuyl- kill county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. German are the parents of two daughters: Alice A., born October 29, 1887, and Carrie E., born August 10, 1893. The family have a large circle of friends throughout the county.
ALVIN E. FRANTZ. The family of which Alvin E. Frantz, cashier of the Second National Bank of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is a representa- tive, originated in Germany, from whence his an- cestors emigrated to this country in 1748 and settled on an unimproved tract of land in what is now Monroe county, the same property being in the possession of his descendants at the present time (1903). He was an industrious and model farmer, and in due course of time the land became rich and arable and produced a plentiful harvest in return for his labor and toil. George Frantz was the father of the following named children : Philip, George John, and Mary Frantz.
Philip Frantz, eldest son of George Frantz, was born in what is now known as Monroe county, Pennsylvania, in 1772. He followed ag- ricultural pursuits during his entire active career and was recognized as a leading and substantial citizen of the community. He was united in mar- riage to Mary Christman, a daughter of Chris- topher Christman, and their children were: David, Joseph, Michael, Susanna, Elizabeth, Mary, Anthony and John M. Frantz. Philip Frantz, father of these children, died in 1844; the death of his wife, Mary (Christman) Frantz, occurred in 1819.
David Frantz, eldest son of Philip and Mary
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GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
Frantz, Was born in Chestnut Hill township, Northampton county, now known as Eldred town- ship, Monroe county, in 1798. He was reared on the paternal estate, educated in the common schools, and in early life learned the trade of shoemaker which proved a very profitable source of income for many years. Later in life he ac- cepted a position as school teacher, and served creditably and satisfactorily in that capacity for a number of years. He was a deacon and elder in the Reformed church, and since attaining his majority gave an earnest and loyal support to the principles of the Democratic party. Mr. Frantz was married twice ; his first wife, Mary ( Borger) Frantz, was the mother of one child, Mary, now the wife of Peter Gower. His second wife, Mary (Andrew) Frantz, daughter of John and Eva (Weiant) Andrew, became the mother of four children-Sally Ann, Reuben, Edward A. and Leveina. Of this family Edward A. is the only surviving member at the present time (1903). Mr. Frantz died in 1869; his wife died in 1861.
Edward A. Frantz, second son of David and Mary (Andrew) Frantz, was a native of North- ampton county, Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred on the old homestead in 1831. He at- tended the common schools of the neighborhood, and during his boyhood days acquired a thorough knowledge of farm life, which occupation en- grossed his time and attention for a number of years. He was engaged as a teacher in the pub- lic schools of Eldred township for several years. He also served in the capacity of organist in the Reformed church at Kunkletown for fourteen years. He was a Democrat in poltics, and was chosen by his fellow townsmen to fill many of the local offices. In 1878 he removed from Monroe county to Northampton county, and has since made his residence in that section of the state, now residing in Nazareth. Mr. Frantz mar- ried Emma C. Daniel, born in Moore town- ship, Northampton county, in 1847, a daughter of Addi and Elizabeth (Renner) Daniel. Addi Daniel was born in Lower Nazareth town- ship, a son of William Daniel, who was born in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and he in turn was a son of William Daniel, who came from
France and settled in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. The following named children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Frantz: Erastus S., born in 1865, died in infancy ; Alvin E., born in 1869; Clinton D., born in 1871 ; Charles A., died in infancy ; Hen- rietta, born in 1875; Mary C., born in 1877; George W., born in 1879.
Alvin E. Frantz, eldest surviving son of Ed- ward A. and Emma C. Frantz, was born in Eldred township, Monroe county, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1869. He obtained a practical education in the township schools near Nazareth, and after laying aside his school books began his business career as a clerk in a store. He retained this position for one year, after which he ac- cepted a position as school teacher and served in that capacity for four years. The following nine years he was employed as a bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Pen Argyl, and during this period of time acceptably discharged the du- ties of the position. He then organized the Sec- ond National Bank of Nazareth and on March II, 1901, received the first appointment as cash- ier. In all his business career Mr. Frantz has proved himself a thoroughly honorable and reli- able man whose chief characteristics are those which would win success and recognition in any vocation he chose to engage in. He holds mem- bership in the St. John Reformed church of Naz- areth, and for a number of years has served as superintendent of the Sunday school, which posi- tion he is filling at the present time ( 1903). Po- litically he is a Democrat, and fraternally he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Royal Arch Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Senior and Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and the Order of Heptasophs.
HON. WILLIAM F. BECK resides in Lower Nazareth township, on the old Ehret homestead that has been in possession of the Ehret family for four generations and to which his wife belongs. Peter Beck was the progenitor of the Beck family in America. His son. John Henry, was the father of George H. Beck, who was born on the old Beck homestead in Lower
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
Nazareth township, April 1, 1798. His boyhood and youth were there passed, and he eventually became the owner of the property, devoting his entire life to agricultural pursuits. In matters pertaining to public progress and improvement he was prominent and influential. He was serving as a trustee of the Lutheran church of Hecktown at the time the present church edifice was erected. In politics he was an old line Whig until the dis- solution of the party, when he joined the ranks of the Republican party. He married Elizabeth Johnson, who was born in 1800 and they became the parents of eleven children : Henry J., Jacob, John P., Charles F., William G., Simon P., Eliza- beth, Sabina, Samuel J., James E. and Stephen C. George H. Beck died in 1879, and his wife departed,this life in 1876.
Henry J. Beck, the father of Hon. William F. Beck, was born in the old homestead property March 7, 1821, and became a pupil in the com- mon schools in his early boyhood days. When but a youth he also became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and later he inherited the old homestead, upon which he carried on farming to within a few years of his entire life. He served in many local posi- tions, and gave his political allegiance to the Re- publican party. He also filled the positions of elder and trustee in the Hecktown Lutheran church. His death occurred April 13, 1882, and his wife died May 13, 1894. He had married Adeline Biery, a daughter of Jonas Biery of Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, and their children were William F .; Alavesta C., the wife of Milton Dech of East Allen township; and Allen B., who died at the age of two years.
William F. Beck, like his direct ancestors for several generations, was born on the old Beck homestead in Lower Nazareth township, his natal day being November 4, 1851, and since his father's death holds the exclusive right of pos- session of the old homestead which has been in possession of the family for four generations. Having attended the common schools he after- ward entered Bethlehem Academy, and was for a time a student in a select school in Bethlehem. In early manhood he was engaged in teaching for
four years, and then turned his attention to farm- ing. Since 1875 he has resided continuously upon the farm which he now occupies, and which has been in possession of the Ehret family for four generations.
Mr. Beck has been active in public life as an advocate of the Democratic party, and in 1902 he was elected to the state legislature. He has been especially helpful and active in behalf of ag- ricultural intrests, and in 1884 became associated with the Northampton County Agricultural So- ciety. He was a member of its various commit- tees for several years, is still a member of the board of managers, and was president of the society for seven years. He is also a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and was its vice president in 1902. He belongs to the Hecktown Lutheran church, of which he is a trustee.
Mr. Beck was married October 4, 1873, to Miss Sybilla M. Ehret, who was born on the old Ehret homestead in Lower Nazareth township, September 5, 1852, and is a daughter of Joseph and Angelina (Best) Ehret. Her father was born August 12, 1819, and his parents were George and Margaret (Ritter) Ehret, while the great-grandfather of Mrs. Beck was John H. Ehret, who served in the Revolutionary war for a time. Mr. and Mrs. Beck had one son Floyd W., who was born December 8, 1877. After he had completed a course of study in the Nazareth high school he had engaged in teaching school himself for a time, after which he prepared for college in Lerch's preparatory school at Easton, Pennsylvania. He afterwards entered Lafayette College, but was obliged to abandon his collegiate work on account of failing health. On the 17th of September, 1898, he was married to Miss Minnie E. Schneble, but continued to fail in health . until finally he had to succumb, and departed this life on January 23, 1904, without issue.
JOHN ELI LENTZ, deceased, was actively associated with the commercial development of Allentown for a number of years, and in com- munity affairs took a deep interest that resulted in helpful co-operation in many measures that contributed to the substantial improvement of the
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city. He was born in Siegersville, February I, 1842, his parents being William and Sarah (Bal- liet) Lentz.
John E. Lentz in his boyhood days was a stu- dent in the public schools, and when not engaged with the duties of the schoolroom he assisted his father in the operation of the home farm. In 1863, after having served a short apprenticeship in a carriage factory at Schnecksville, he came to Allentown and engaged in the carriage business on his own account on South Seventh street. February 1, 1867, he associated with William S. Young at No. 603 Hamilton street in the manu- facture of boots and shoes, under the firm style of Young & Lentz. This association was con- tinued until 1872, when Mr. Young retired and Mr. William H. Weinsheimer and John Seaboldt, Jr., became his partners at the southwest corner of Sixth and Hamilton streets, continuing the manufacture of shoes on a large scale under the firm name of J. E. Lentz & Co. On the dissolu- tion of this connection in 1889 Mr. Lentz was alone in business until May 1, 1901, after which the Honest Shoe Manufacturing Company pur- chased the shoe department, while Mr. Lentz continued in the wholesale rubber trade ( which he had previously established) until the time of his death, November 19, 1901. All of his enter- prises proved profitable, bringing to him a very gratifying financial return. It was along legit- imate business lines that he won his success, his enterprise, careful management and well directed activity serving as the foundation upon which he built his prosperity. Mr. Lentz was for many years a director in the Allentown National Bank of Allentown, the Allen Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and Fairview Cemetery Association, and a trustee of St. John's Reformed church and of the Allentown Hospital Association. He was the first treasurer of the latter association, and started its endowment fund by a liberal dona- tion. He served as school director, and gave his political allegiance to the Republican party.
Mr. Lentz was united in marriage February I, 1870, to Miss Amanda Maria Schreiber, a daughter of Edward and Mary (Laubach) Schreiber. Mrs. Lentz died November 30, 1885.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Lentz were Mary E. and William S. Lentz. The latter died Sep- tember 23, 1903, unmarried. For a number of years he assisted his father, but latterly assumed general management of the business and after- wards took full charge of the affairs of his estate. The daughter is the wife of John Thomas Little, and has one child, Margaret. Mr. Little is a son of the Rev. James A. Little, D. D., and is a graduate of Lehigh University. After complet- ing his education he became connected with the Thomas Iron Company as chemist, and subse- quently with the American Cement Company at Egypt.
Mr. Lentz was married a second time, July II, 1888, to Margaret E. Reninger, a daughter of Aaron G. and Eliza J. (Schreiber ) Reninger. She survives and resides at the family homestead.
DR. EUGENE HENRY DICKENSHIED, who in the practice of medicine has given evi- dence of the possession of professional qualifi- cations and ability such as are won only through close application, earnest study and diligent re- search, and is therefore accounted one of the lead- ing physicians and surgeons of Allentown, was born in Plover, Pennsylvania, August 5, 1859. The family is of German ancestry, and Dr. Dick- enshied is a lineal descendant in the fifth genera- tion of the founder, who emigrated to America in 1765. His paternal great-grandparents were John and Mary (Martin) Dickenshied, the lat- ter named having been a daughter of Dr. Chris- tian Frederick Martin, the emigrant of the Mar- tin family in this country. His grandparents were Dr. Charles Frederick and Anna Catherine (Everhard) Dickenshied, the former named sery- ing his country as a surgeon in the war of 1812. Anna Catherine (Everhard) Dickenshied was one of three children born to Henry and Anna Mariah (Dubbs) Everhard, the other children 'be- ing Jacob and Michael. Henry Everhard was a son of Michael Everhard, who came to this coun- try, October 16, 1727, accompanied by his broth- ers, Joseph and Peter, and settled in the great swamp.
Dr. John Henry Dickenshied (father) was
29 X
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS,
graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania with the class of 1847, and has since practiced his profession in Lehigh county. He married Amanda Steinman, a daughter of George and Mariah (Berger) Steinman, and their son, Eugene H. Dickenshied, followed in the professional footsteps of his father and grandfather.
Dr. Eugene H. Dickenshied pursued a course of study in the preparatory and collegiate dle- partments of Muhlenberg College, being a stu- dent in that institution from 1870 until 1876, and the succeeding year attended the Franklin and Marshall College at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Matriculating in the University of Pennsylvania in 1878, he was graduated from the medical de- partment with the class of 1881, and was awarded the Tyson Morbid Anatomy prize, given by Dr. James Tyson for a thesis upon the histology of atheroma. Returning to his native town immed- iately after his graduation, Dr. Dickenshied prac- ticed there continuously until 1890, when he came to Allentown, where he immediately attained prominence as a medical practitioner, and is now one of the best known physicians and surgeons of this part of the state. Official honors in connec- tion with his profession have been conferred upon him, and outside the path of his private practice he has done effective service as a member of the medical fraternity. He has occupied the position of surgeon to the American Steel and Wire Com- pany at Allentown since 1896 to the present time ( 1904), and of the Allentown Foundry and Ma- chine Company. He is the president of the board of United States pension examiners. He is pres- ident of the Lehigh Valley Medical Society, a member of the Pennsylvania State Medical So- ciety, and was formerly president of the Lehigh County Medical Society and of the Allentown City Medical Society.
Dr. Dickenshied has various fraternal and social relations. He is a Master Mason of Sau- con Lodge, No. 469, and ranks as past master. He is a member of the Z Chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity, and of the St. Legier and Livingston Clubs, also of the Elks Lodge, No. 130. His political support is given to the Republican party,
and he manifests a public-spirited interest in the growth of the political principles which he deems contain the best elements of good government. Although he has little political aspiration he nev- ertheless takes a deep and co-operant interest in community affairs. He served for six consecu- tive years, from 1890 to 1896, as a member of the Allentown school board, while from 1893 to 1895 he was president of the board. For three years, from 1895 to 1898, he held the position of health officer.
On May 2, 1882, Dr. Dickenshied married Miss Clara C. Bryan, daughter of A. C. and Re- becca (Andrews) Bryan, and their children are Harry M. and Margaret C. Dickenshied. George Andrews, maternal grandfather of Mrs. Dr. Dick- enshied, married Catherine Miller, both being representatives of old and honored families of Carbon county, residing at Ashfield. A. C. Bryan, father of Mrs. Dr. Dickenshied, was a son of Sidney and Elizabeth Bryan; he was a leading man of affairs in Luzerne county, and also for a period of time in the city of Allentown. He was a Mason of high standing. His death occurred in Dexter, Arkansas, in 1885.
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