History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 120

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 120

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MACUNGIE BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION was or- ganized Jan. 24, 1884, and these were the first officers: J. D. Erdman, Pres .; Chas. H. Moll, Vice Pres .; O. P. Knauss, Sec .; John Rems, Treas .; Ellis R. Lichtenwalner, Horace F. Neu- meyer and Wm. H. Klotz, Trustees. It meets on the first and third Friday evenings of each month. The present officers are C. A. Rauch, Pres .; J. M. Roedler, Sec .; W. H. Klotz, Treas.

WASHINGTON CAMP, No. 569, P. O. S. of A. was instituted Oct. 31, 1890, and surrendered its charter on May 10, 1897, was reorganized July 5, 1897. The camp has about 100 members and meets every Monday evening. The present of- ficers are Raymond Moll, Pres .; Paul Hartzell, Vice Pres .; P. W. Trexler, Rec. Sec .; J. M. Roedler, Fin. Sec .; A. B. Christman, Treas .; Edwin Strauss, J. O. Wetzel and O. J. Knauss, Trustees.

MACUNGIE ENCAMPMENT, No. 123, I. O. O. F. was organized or renewed February 15, 1913, being transferred from Longswamp, Berks coun- ty, where it had existed as Longswamp Encamp- ment since 1856. Sixty members joined the first evening. The organization meets on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of each month. Its present officers are O. P. Knauss, C. P .; W. H. Krill, H. P .; Clarence Moll, Sr. W .; Edwin Bauer, Jr. W .; N. W. Knauss, Scribe; W. L. Knappenberger, Treas.

MACUNGIE LODGE, No. 75, K. of P., the first lodge of this order in the county, was chartered June 3, 1868, by the following members: F. B. Wescoe, V. P .; Julius Holstein, W. C .; George

667

BOROUGH OF MACUNGIE.

F. Knauss, V. C .; M. H. Miller, R. S .; M. D. Lichtenwalner, F. S .; Herman Phillips, B .; E. S. Marsteller, G .; Amos Parker, I. S .; James Haines, O. S. The lodge suspended about twen- ty years ago, the membership having fallen off so that successful business could no longer be done.

HOTELS.

Leonard Schlauch kept the first hotel in an old log house where the Keystone House now stands. The old tavern was the voting place for Upper and Lower. Milford and Upper and Lower Macungie until 1832. The hotel now is an up-to-date hostelry. Ambrose Weller is the present proprietor.

In 1869 Dr. Charles Meyer erected the com-

many a horse was handled by the late Stephen Hill and others.

BUSINESS INSTITUTIONS AND PEOPLE.

The borough now contains five churches, a postoffice, with two rural mail routes, railroad station (East Penn Branch of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway), express and telegraph of- fices, bank ( Perkiomen National), school-house, town hall, lodge hall, steam roller mill, iron fur- nace, hosiery mill, underwear mill, silk mill, shoe factory, brass foundry, paper-box factory, cream- ery, carriage factory, grain warehouse, coal and lumber yards, printing establishment, tinsmith shop, blacksmith shop, livery, bakery, bread and cake store, four general stores, grocery store, three ice cream and candy stores, two hotels, two barber shops, shoe store, plumbing establishment,

SALLADE HOME.

modious four-story hotel building on the north side of Main street, near the crossing of the East Penn Railroad. This has been conducted as a hotel ever since, by different men as proprietors. The present proprietor is George E. Lynn. Dr. Meyer also conducted a drug store in the western side for many years.

For many years the brick building in the cen- tral part of Main street, now occupied by the postoffice, hardware store, etc., was a hotel and was long known as the Centre House. It had its last license in 1883.

The East Pennsylvania Hotel, later known as the Black Horse Hotel, was a hostelry, abandon- ed as such about thirty years ago. It was con- verted into the double dwelling westwardly of Grace Lutheran Church on Main street, and that edifice stands on the site of the hotel yard where

bicycle shop, watch and clock repairer, cigar manufacturer, hardware store, restaurant, mil- linery store, two tailor shops, butcher shop, meat market, harness shop, furniture store, machine shop, three shoe makers, four doctors, two veteri- narians, a dentist, three resident pastors, two lawyers, two justices of the peace, two master painters, concrete contractor, undertaker, ice cream manufacturer, several agents, music agen- cy, etc.

INDUSTRIES.

The town possesses a number of diversified in- dustries that make it quite a business centre in the community. Before the advent of the steam railroad, it was the trading point of people for many miles around. Until the Perkiomen Rail- road was opened, much custom came from peo-

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ple in the lower section of Lehigh, and from Berks and Montgomery counties. Coal, lumber and other merchandise were bought here and de- livered far away. Closer competition cut up this trade and then local industries gradually sprung up.

Coverlet weaving was for many years an ex- tensive and profitable industry considering the population and resources of the community. This industry ceased sixty years ago, the fashion in these articles having changed and new inventions in weaving machinery having made competition with the hand loom impracticable. Thus it came to pass that the industries of the town were re- stricted to the shoemaker, the blacksmith and the tailor, and instead of several men being engaged as at present, there were possibly a dozen employ- ed making boots and shoes to order, before fac- tory footwear was introduced.

A pioneer industry was a rope-walk operated in a small way by John Wack, on Plum alley.

THE MACUNGIE FURNACE.

Little or nothing was done in the way of es- tablishing industries until the year 1874, when the iron furnace was erected. As the panic of the previous year had seriously depressed the iron industry, a new furnace seemed to be a doubtful enterprise ; at all events, after having been kept in blast for a few years, apparently at a loss, the company became insolvent and the plant was sold by the sheriff. A few years later a new company, named the Macungie Iron Company, was form- ed, the furnace was restarted and after a pre- carious and interrupted operation it went out of blast in 1894 and was again sold by the sheriff in 1898.

On account of a later boom in pig metal it again became a valuable plant. It was bought by the Empire Steel and Iron Company, and, hav- ing been repaired and made better than it had ever been before, was put in blast January II,

SINGMASTER TANNERY.

Hat making was also carried on for a time by three men. Although their trade cut no great figure, when it is considered that fashionable and substantial "beaver tiles" were made by them, it must be regretted that the industry became ob- solete instead of serving as the foundation for several large establishments.

A well known industry in the community for many years was the tannery established by Rev. Jacob Van Buskirk about 1785. His son-in-law, Adam Singmaster succeeded him and the latter's son, John, and his grandson, James Singmaster, conducted the same until the latter razed the buildings about thirty years ago, the manufacture of leather in small establishments having become unprofitable.

1900. It had a successful run but was blown out for repairs several times. Then, in October, 1912, it was restarted, after extensive improve- ments had again been made, but was only oper- ated until May 16 of the following year when the works were shut down, owing to the unfavorable iron market. The furnace is one of a number of plants owned or controlled by the Empire Com- pany, whose headquarters are at Catasauqua. Leonard Peckitt, of that place, has been the presi- dent of the company since its organization.

Mr. Peckitt purchased considerable mountain land near Macungie within recent years and erected on the former "Roedler Head" a fine bungalow and observatories, where he and wife spend the greater part of the summer seasons.

669

BOROUGH OF MACUNGIE.

KEYSTONE ROLLER MILLS.

In 1876 Dr. D. D. Fritch, his brother, Nathan D. Fritch, and their brother-in-law, Harry F. Bogh, bought the old grist mill of the Harrison Miller estate, located at the Swabia creek, nearly opposite the railroad station, together with the old mill dam and land on Race street. The old frame mill was razed and a new mill, built of brick, 50 by 180 feet, was erected 200 feet south of Main street. The water system was improved and the roller process of flour-making was adopt- ed. Through their enterprise, zeal and business tact, their interests grew to such a degree that the available water power was found inadequate, so a steam was substituted. The trade continued to increase and the firm was compelled to make ad- ditions to the mill and enlarge its capacity from time to time, until to-day it turns out 500 bar-

of 100,000 bushels, which includes the large ele- vator located at East Greenville, Pa. In 1911 the mill was reconstructed, a large addition being made to the south end, and entirely new and the latest improved machinery was installed. A few years ago an elevator was erected at East Green- ville, Montgomery county, where a flourishing business is maintained in connection with the ex- tensive business at Macungie. About the year 1879, Dr. Fritch introduced the first rye flour ever made by the roller process in the country. The Keystone Roller Mills in its various depart- ments employs twenty-five men. Two of the leading brands of flour manufactured by this concern, "Fritch's XXXX Fancy," and "Tri- umph's Spring Patent," are household words in many of the homes in eastern Pennsylvania.

In 1897 Mr. Bogh withdrew from the firm.

KEYSTONE ROLLER MILLS.

rels of flour every 24 hours. The mill is operated uninterruptedly every working day during the year, and whether times be poor or brisk, the pro- duct finds such a ready sale that the mill is often taxed to its utmost capacity to supply the de- mand. Besides a number of brands of flour, the mill produces corresponding quantities of feed and bran. This enterprising firm buys up practically all the wheat and rye that are grown within a radius of many miles of Macungie, but such is the quantity needed for the output that large and steady shipments are bought and received from the north and west.

For storage purposes, a cylinderical steel ele- vator was built, with a capacity of 25,000 bushels. The plant, however, has a total storage capacity

Dr. Fritch, the senior brother, is the controlling head and partner, his brother, Nathan, not tak- ing an active part on account of illness.

In connection with the milling business and very much for experimental purposes, Dr. Fritch some years ago purchased the fine Schaeffer farm lying partly in the northwestern section of the borough, and this has been made a model farm under his own personal supervision. For many seasons extraordinary crops of wheat, grass and potatoes have been taken from it. Dr. Fritch spe- cializes in the raising of wheat and potatoes. From a fourth of his farm or about forty acres, in 1907, the potato yield was 15,000 bushels. In this con- nection it may be mentioned that through the in- strumentality of the extraordinary crops of pota-

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

toes raised by Dr. Fritch, shipments of potatoes were begun which have increased, as other farm- ers have begun the same course, from a few bush- els to 100,000 bushels from the Macungie rail- road station.

The effect of the scientific farming introduced by Dr. Fritch has not only been of material bene- fit to his own county and state but to the coun- try at large. His advice has been solicited from many quarters of the United States and also from foreign lands.

Besides their extensive mill business, and the farm and elevator interests, Messrs. Fritch erect- ed three handsome mansions on Main street, where they reside, and a number of other houses in town. They also own considerable other real estate here.

Much of the local progress during the past thirty years is attributable to the enterprise mani- fested by the proprietors of the Keystone Roller Mills.

PRINTING AND PUBLISHING.

The pioneer printer at Macungie was L. F. Roth who transferred a small outfit from Hel- lerstown to this place. He did a jobbing busi- ness for a year or two and then sold his outfit to Captain Levi Smoyer, a lawyer, who had his of- fice here. With Richard J. DeLong, principal of the borough schools, as editor, he published the Macungie Independent, a monthly paper, for several years. O. P. Knauss having served his apprenticeship in the establishment with Mr. De- Long, rented the outfit and carried on the busi- ness one year, when Mr. DeLong retired. Since then Mr. Knauss has conducted the printing busi- ness in a successful manner. In 1883 he pur- chased the printing plant from Mr. Smoyer and improved its equipment very much from time to time.

In 1888 Mr. Knauss started the publication of a weekly newspaper, entitled Macungie Progress, which he conducted for exactly twenty-three years, until March 30, 1911, when he suspended its publication. The rural mail facilities enabled country people to receive daily papers and their introduction supplanted the weeklies.

This local paper had a wide circulation and through the careful management of the proprietor it exerted considerable influence for good in the community. In its issues much of the town's history was chronicled and during its existence more local improvements of a public character were advocated and secured than in all its pre- vious history.

The location of the plant was toward the west- ern end of Main street until 1908 when Mr.

Knauss purchased the old Weiler premises (one of the oldest properties in Macungie), towards the eastern end, improved and enlarged the same, and since then he has carried on the general print- ing business there.

VALLEY KNITTING MILL.

The Valley Knitting Mill of R. F. Moyer & Co. was established in 1891. John L. Reinhard and John Rems formed a partnership with Mr. Moyer and the manufacture of hosiery has been successfully carried on ever since. The original brick building on Church street has been doubled in size and the capacity and facilities were im- proved from time to time. Various styles of hosiery are manufactured in large quantities. The output is disposed of mostly to big dealers in New York and other large cities. From fifty to sev- enty-five hands are regularly employed.

In 1907 Mr. Rems withdrew from the firm, selling his interest to the remaining partners. Mr. Reinhard has active control in the manufac- ture, Mr. Moyer being more regularly engaged in his general store business which he maintains in connection.

MACUNGIE UNDERWEAR FACTORY.

The manufacture of ladies' underwear was be- gun by John Rems & Sons in 1907, in a well- built frame structure erected on a lot which fronts on Locust street. Mr. Rems had for six- teen years been associated with R. F. Moyer and John L. Reinhard in the manufacture of hosiery. He took into partnership his sons, John D. and Robert E., and by industry and perseverance they have built up a nice business among the big dealers and houses in the trade. Electric lighted, well heated and ventilated, with modern ma- chinery, and equipment, their establishment is a model of its kind. There is steady work for half a hundred employes on the average.

CENTURY SHOE CO., LIMITED.

In the beginning of the year 1901 the Century Shoe Company, Limited, was organized. The firm members were W. H. Welland, Calvin C. Griner and Alvin E. Moyer. Work was begun in a frame building close to the railroad station and business was started in a small way. Mr. Welland was a former manufacturer and sales- man and Messrs. Griner and Moyer were skil- ful mechanics. The trade gradually grew and then Mr. Welland withdrew and John H. Beid- ler took his interest in the firm. The building and facilities were outgrown and a fine three- story-and-basement brick factory building was

671

BOROUGH OF MACUNGIE.

erected on a lot located just beside the railroad, east of the station, purchased from the Singmaster estate. A splendidly equipped plant has been put up and the business has developed in a very suc- cessful manner. At first infants' shoes and the smaller children's shoes were made, but gradually machinery was added for the larger sizes and these are produced in the best styles and shapes. The company has been very successful and its trade extends to nearby and distant points in many states.

The Century Shoe Company succeeded the Re- liable Shoe Company which had been pioneers in the shoe line here. After several years of success- ful operation, this firm moved its business to Or- wigsburg, Schuylkill county, where it has been steadily prospering since.

MACUNGIE SILK MILL.

In 1909 G. Byron Kleppinger, Charles L. Huber, Charles W. Rothenberger, Dr. D. D. Fritch, Charles A. Rauch and Horace W. Schantz organized a company for the manufac- ture of silk materials at Macungie and became incorporated December 20, 1908, under the name of the Macungie Silk Company with a capital of $20,000. Dr. D. D. Fritch is president and Mr. Kleppinger secretary and treasurer, and also man- ager of the company. Their new enterprise was started in the former Baptist Church building on Lea street and while carrying on the works there they erected a one-story brick mill, 50 by 72 feet, on Locust street and equipped it with the necessary machinery, and began business there in September following. They operated eight looms in the manufacture of ribbons and bindings of different varieties, in various colors, which they mostly sell direct to the trade in all parts of the United States. They employ 25 hands and run day and night from Monday morning until Satur- day afternoon. The thrown silk is imported from Japan and China and secured from importers in New York.

CARRIAGE WORKS.

The Enterprise Carriage Works of J. W. Ger- hard have long been established and are constantly busy turning out new vehicles and making re- pairs. Mr. Gerhard also conducts a store for the sale of carriages at Allentown. He is largely in- terested in a stone quarry near Allentown and operates a fine farm a few miles south of town. The works here employ a force of mechanics all the year and the product is sent to all parts of the country.

MACHINES AND INVENTIONS.

For about thirty years Horace F. Neumeyer has been engaged in manufacturing various pat- ented articles of his own invention, including hy- drants, nozzles, spigots, etc., and making repairs with automatic machinery in his model shop. A more extended reference to his personality and mechanical skill will be found in a biographical sketch in this volume.

BRASS WORKS.

Richard Goedecke transferred his business of manufacturing ornamental brass goods to Ma- cungie from New York in 1888 and formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, M. W. Schmoyer. Business was quite successfully car- ried on for several years in the former "Hall" church building on Main street. In 1903 H. F. Neumeyer succeeded the firm and later took with him into the business J. Walter and Howard M. Singmaster. The business was incorporated the same year. Later Mr. Neumeyer disposed of his interests to Messrs. Singmaster and they erected a fine plant on a plot of ground on the north side of the railroad, opposite the station. The firm name was changed to Macungie Brass & Manu- facturing Company, and for some years various brass articles have been manufactured there. At present automobile parts are made for the trade.

IRON FOUNDRY.

Among industries that had been doing busi- ness here but which are now out of existence, is the iron foundry long operated by James Miller and later by his sons, Victor and Oscar, and still later by Miller & Rauch. It finally passed into other hands and after having been improved and enlarged, a series of fires eventually destroyed it in 1911. In its time many stove parts, plows, and other castings were made. The foundry stood just north of the railroad, about a square east of the station.

MANY CIGARS MADE HERE.

Some twenty years ago Magee Bros. carried on an extensive cigar manufacturing business here. They failed in a few years and were succeeded by J. Steigerwalt & Co. who also became in financial straits. Both concerns had employed many hands. They were located in the former church building on Lea street. While there are a number of cigarmakers here they are compelled to work else- where as there are no factories to employ them here.

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

PAPER BOX FACTORY.

In 1909 the Wheeler & Wieder Company be- gan the manufacture of paper boxes here. They gradually increased their facilities and are now very well equipped. They produce boxes for textile mills and shoe factories and their trade is steadily increasing. A number of skilled hands and improved machinery are employed. Mr. Wheeler is a native of Shoemakersville and pre- viously worked at Reading and Kutztown. Mr. Wieder is a native of town. Their place of busi- ness is in the Weaver building, East Main street.

LEFT GOOD IMPRESSIONS.

Among deceased citizens who were prominent- ly identified with the town, the county and state, and left their impress upon the community, may be mentioned the following :

Station Agent Gideon F. Egner, ex-Sheriff

Wayne Bitting, Assemblyman Perry Wanne- macher, County Commissioners David L. Barn- er, Stephen B. Neumoyer and Alexander Sing- master, Lawyers Levi Smoyer and Ellis R. Lich- tenwallner, Postmasters John Haines, Amos Parker, Charles Rems; also Edward Muth and Jonas Hunsberger, merchant tailors; Stephen Hill, C. K. Henninger and Chas. S. Shimer, hotelkeepers; John Shiffert and Aaron Erd- man, hardware merchants; Conrad Hosfeld, barber ; Jethro Schuler, machinist ; Charles Hill, brick manufacturer and butcher; Frank B. Wes- coe, teacher and secretary ; John Fingado, express agent and cigarmaker ; Samuel Moyer, carpenter contractor ; Wm. Haines, Sr., hat maker; Frank Shimer, merchant; C. O. Shimer, drover and capitalist; T. M. Brobst and H. T. Hertzog, justices; Charles Schwenk, tinsmith; Wm. Haines, shoemaker; Victor G. Moyer, baker ; Frank D. Lukens, shipper and salesman; Dr. Charles Meyer and Franklin Fisher, druggists.

CHAPTER XXX.

BOROUGH OF SLATINGTON.

First Settlement .- The Borough of Slatington is situated on the west side of the Lehigh river, about two miles below the Gap in the Blue Ridge, at a point where the famous "Warrior's Path" crossed the stream, and where Nicholas Kern took up land as early as 1737. The area of this land amounted to 500 acres, subsequently increased to 700 acres, and it was described as having been on the West Branch of the Delaware river, as the Lehigh was then called.

Benjamin Franklin, in his report to Governor Morris in January, 1756, stated that he had pro-

wit, and in time came to be corrupted to "truck- er." There were no other settlers in this im- mediate locality besides the Kerns until after the discovery of slate, and this family lived here quietly as farmers and millers.

Nicholas Kern established a grist-mill and saw-mill on Trout creek a short distance west of the river about 1745. The saw-mill stood on the site of the present mill; and the grist-mill was under the same roof to the south. Upon the re- moval of the mill the second was built at a point now in the center of Main Street at the

KERN'S MILL.

cured boards and timber from Trucker's saw- mill for use at Fort Allen at Weissport some distance above the Gap; and many state papers, letters and reports from officers, who were sta- tioned in this region from 1756 to 1764, bear date as from "Kern's," or "Trucker's." The two names represented the same person, William Kern, having become distinguished from others of this name because of his jovial and joking dis- position. The locality was inhabited by Ger- mans, and they naturally used the term truck- ener to identify him, which signified a joker or

east end of the bridge. It was a stone struc- ture, a story and a half high. This was torn down in 1850 by Jonas Kern and he erected the present three-story stone mill at the eastern end of the bridge on the lower side of the street. At that time the only persons who lived in the lower section were: Jonas Kern, John Kern (his father ), Henry Kuntz and Robert McDowell.

Below the mill of 1850, about 150 feet, along the creek, it was stated in 1850 by John Kern (grandfather of Benjamin Kern, who is now living at Slatington, 82 years old,) that certain

673

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Indians tented under a large chestnut tree when the first settler, Nicholas Kern, arrived, and they became very friendly with him; that they became angered at some alleged wrong by early settlers down the river where they killed a num- ber of persons and destroyed much property, but they did not molest Kern though they suspected his co-operation against them.

The house of Nicholas Kern was the first building put up in the place. It was built of logs about 1741, and stood on the north-east corner of Main and Diamond streets. Many years afterward, about 1807, another log build- ing was erected in its place and it had the dis- tinction of a double porch in that period. It was torn down in 1858, and a new modern dwelling was erected in its stead by Henry Kuntz, which has been improved by his son- in-law, W. W. Bowman, and is now occupied by him.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 120

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1158

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158