USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 180
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West of this tract was the Godfried Knauss tract, which was first taken up by Daniel Roth, Sr., in 1737. Godfried Knauss, Sr., became the owner in 1761, and by 1768 he had 100 acres cultivated and 200 acres uncultivated. On this. tract he built in 1769 a stone house which was recently torn down. The line between White- hall and South Whitehall townships runs through this land. He died in 1777; then his son, Godfrey, Jr., secured the land north of the Jordan creek and that south of the creek was sold to Judge Peter Rhoads. Descendants of the Knauss family still own a considerable portion of the land.
One of the most interesting tracts in the township is that warranted by John Aigander in 1734 and 1737, containing 318 acres, along the Jordan creek. Jacob Wertz secured it in 1749 and sold it Sept. 4, 1751 to George Hoffman, who sold it, Jan. 26, 1754, to Michael Harlacher for £250. Harlacher sold 134 acres to Daniel Harlacher, on Oct. 9, 1766 for £275, and 103 acres to his son-in-law, Christopher Blank, on Oct. 10th, for £225. The western portion of the tract was secured by Conrad Marks in 1784, whose descendants still own a portion of it.
Peter Blank, son of Christopher, secured 120 acres of the tract in 1790. In 1799 his son-in- law, John Helfrich, secured the land and the greater part is still owned by his descendants. On this tract is the famous "Indian cave," and numerous large springs, as well as the Helfrich grist-mill, the old school house near the bridge, and the site of an ancient cemetery, where only one tomb stone remains, dated 1775.
1006
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Adjoining this tract on the east was Stephen Snyder's land, part of which, 85 acres, he pur- chased from Jacob Yundt, in 1750, and 183 acres of it he patented in 1786. He and his wife (who was a daughter of Frederick Newhard), died a week apart, in March, 1796. Fullerton is located on a part of this land and John Diefen- derfer subsequently became the owner of a por- tion of it.
Jacob Yund secured by warrants dated May 9, 1750 and June 12, 1750, a tract of 278 acres extending from "Biery's Bridge," along the Le- high, to Snyder's tract. In 1757 he built a stone house on the tract which stood until a few years ago. He died in 1760 and his son George be- came the owner in, 1771. In 1768 his widow owned 50 acres of cultivated land and 175 acres of uncultivated land. George Yundt died in 1828 and the property was divided among his five sons, John, Abraham, Daniel, George, and Jonas.
South of the Snyder land was a tract of 1431/2 acres which Giles Windsor sold May 13, 1768, to Francis Hartman, who sold it on Jan. I, 1776 to Peter Newhard and Abraham Sterner. Newhard sold his portion to Sterner on Jan. 20, 1785, whose descendants still own a portion of the land.
Frederick Newhard purchased from John East- burn on Nov. 28, 1746, a tract of 250 acres ad- joining the Aigander tract, and land of William Allen. He secured an adjoining tract of 65 acres. After his death in 1765, his widow was assessed on 90 acres of cultivated land and 210 acres of uncultivated land. His sons, Frederick and Laurence became the owners of the land, and in 1790 Laurence built a stone grist-mill which still stands.
Francis J. Newhard, a lineal descendant of Frederick, and Samuel J. Koehler (whose wife was a descendant of Laurence Newhard), still own a large part of the original tract. The balance of the land included in Whitehall town- ship was owned by William Allen for many years and was not settled upon until a com- paratively recent date.
TAX LIST OF WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP, 1762. Samuel Seger, Collector.
£
£
Felix Arner, IO
David Deshler, ... 24
Paul Balliet, 50 Jacob Dormeyer, .. 5
Joseph Balliet, 5
Andreas Dormeyer,. 5
Peter Born, 5 Adam Deshler, 42
Peter Basler, IO Henry Eal,
John Berret,. 7 Paul Eberhard,
Christopher Bear, .. ..
24 Henry Funk, IO
Peter Burkholter, . .
30 Ulrich Flickinger, .. I6
Christopher Blanck,. 16 Peter Flickinger, .. 5
Peter Bechler, 4 Michael Foltz, 6
William Creutz, 7 John Gressman, . .
£
Peter Good,
12
Yost Meyer,
Jacob Mickly, ..
16
George Good, IO
Laurence Good, 99
(Abated 10)
Christopher Gong-
wear,
Conrad Grob, 14
Conrad Grumbach, .. 7 George Ringer,
Adam Geibel, 6 Michael Ringer,
John Greissemer,. ..
Conrad Grack,
20 6
Michael Hoffman, .. 28 Martin Harter, ... Carl Hornberger, .. 7 George Henry, . . 5
Jacob Hussing,
George Hoffman, ..
7
Adam Haberle, .
14
Peter Hoffman, .
8
Leonard Heuchel, ..
9
I2 John Sieger,
6 George Smith,
16 Michael Struby,
6 Jacob Son,
5
George Houser, ..
Jacob Härdel,
6 Peter Steckel,
Daniel Horlacher, ..
20
Samuel Saeger, John Shad, 15 12 12
Knappenberger, .
5
Daniel Schneider, .. 9
George Kop,
7
Peter Schlosser, 8
George Knauss, 30
Peter Keass,
Peter Keppel,
Joseph Kennel,
IO
Jacob Kennel,
Godfried Knauss,
22
Jacob Kohler,
45
Jacob Showalder, . .
14 12
Jacob Kern,
28
7 Peter Traxel,
Nicholas Traxel,
Michael Traxel,
I6
Nicholas Meyer, . .
9
Peter Traxel, I8
IO Jacob Wittmer,
8
Jacob Miller,
IO
Ulrich Würth,
IO
Jacob Moritz,
9 Jacob Wolf, 7
Magdalena Meyer,
Samuel Wotring,
IC
widow of Martin, 6 Dietemer Werner, . 6
Adam Maurer, I2
Jacob Yound's wid- ow, IO
Anthony Mies, 4 Singlemen ..
Philip Diel.
Samuel Muse.
Jacob Flickinger.
George Ruch.
Nicholas Fox.
George Schreiber.
Jacob Faar. Daniel Showalter.
Daniel Good. Valentine Showalter.
Engelhard Hoffman.
Christopher Shnyder.
Andreas Jänky.
Jacob Sager.
Michael Kolb.
Nicholas Sager.
Jacob Kolb.
Leonard Sebold.
Jacob Kohler.
George Steininger.
Dewald Kennel.
Martin Schnerr.
5 Jacob Meyer.
INDUSTRIES.
The following industries have been carried on in the township outside of the towns:
£
6
4 Nicholas Marx, . . Frederick Neuhart,. 22 6 Henry Nehlich, .... Michael Neuhart, .. Andreas Ohlwine, .. Peter Reader, . . I8 6 6 8 7 13 George Ruch, 0 8 7 Daniel Roth, Peter Rhoads, Frederick Reitz, . . Stephen Shnyder, .. 7 0 5 12
6 John Roth,
6 Conrad Schlosser, .. John Showalder, .. Joseph Showalder, .. George Steary,
Martin Samel,
Peter Herr,
Nicholas Hertzog, .. Henry Heffelfinger, David Haan,
Michael Kelchner, .. John Ehrenhard
7
Christian Saeger,. . .
5 4 Michael Schnerr, .... Jacob Schreiber. Jacob Schnerr, 12 5 20. 20
6 Leonard Steininger, Henry Shnyder, . . .
4
George Kehler, 8
Henry Turny,
Paul Tussing, 14 45 16
Peter Kohler,
9
George Leibenguth, Adam Miller,
II
8
Daniel Traxel, I6
Jacob Mickly, Jr., ..
Adam Koch,
Adam' Schneck, ..
5 John Shnyder, 16 25
I4 8 5 7 6 12
Paul Gross, 5
6
7
6
WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.
1007
THOMAS IRON-WORKS .- The large iron fur- naces at Hokendauqua were established in I854. The first meeting in this behalf was held at Easton, February 14th, which was attended by the following persons:
Catasauqua- New Jersey-
David Thomas Ephraim Marsh
Samuel Thomas William H. Talcott
Mauch-Chunk-
Easton-
Dr. Henry Detwiler
Peter S. Michler
Tohn Drake
Michael Krause
Derrick Hulick
John P. Scholl
Russel S. Chidsey
New York- Benjamin G. Clark
John T. Knight Daniel Whitsell Carman F. Randolph
The capital was fixed at $200,000, and the first Board of Directors comprised the following members :
E. A. Douglass Tohn Drake Russel S. Chidsey
William H. Talcott
Ephraim Marsh
C. A. Luckenbach
Peter S. Michler
And Samuel Thomas was selected to super- intend the erection of the proposed furnaces.
Besides the persons mentioned. the following also became subscribers in making up the total subscription of 4,000 shares, $200,000:
Jacob Singmaster B. I. Leedom
John Thomas
Augustus Wolle
William Reed I. V. Williamson
John Brown Thomas Butz
Additional subscribers during the year IS55 were :
Joshua Hunt Tohn D. Locke
Charles H. Dexter
Tohn F. Starr
Wm. H. Sayre. Sr. Enoch Locke
Valentine W. Weaver
Augustus G. Richey
Thomas McKeen
John W. Quincy.
Enoch Ketcham
The site selected was at Hokendauqua, where two farms were purchased by David Thomas. the property of Thomas Butz, containing to- gether IS5 acres, situated along the west bank of the Lehigh river, and he was elected as the trustee to hold this real estate and others after- ward acquired, and convey any portion as oc- casion might require. Total area purchased be- came 294 a., 65 p., at cost of $120,502.
The work of erecting two furnaces was begun on March Ist, and at the same time a town was laid out to accommodate the employees at the works. The furnaces were substantially built. each 60 feet high, and IS feet bosh, with two blowing engines, each 500-horse power. and equipped with the proper appliances.
No. I Furnace was put in blast June 1. IS55. and No. 2 on October 23d. They were a con- plete success from the first blast, and the pig metal was equal to the best in the country; and
their operation continued though shortly after- ward a great panic prevailed throughout the country. Indeed their successful operation was so great that two additional furnaces were erect- ed in IS61 and 1862 to meet the demands of their increasing trade, called No. 3 and No. 4; each 55 feet high and IS feet bosh, but after- ward made 65 feet high, which were equipped with two large blowing-engines.
In IS72 and IS73. furnaces No. 5 and No. 6 were added to the Hokendauqua plant. each 60 feet high and IS feet bosh.
In 1867. two furnaces erected at Lockridge (Alburtis) became the property of the Thomas Iron Co., and were called No. 7 and No. S.
In ISS2 this company bought the Keystone furnace at Chain Dam near Easton (63 feet high and 16 feet bosh), and was called No. 9.
With these nine furnaces, the company had an annual capacity of 120.000 tons. The capital of the Company was necessarily increased with this wonderful development of their business and by ISS4 it had reached a capitalization of $2,- 000.000.
Large beds of iron ore were secured in Le- high and Berks counties, and also in New Jersey. to keep up the running supply of the Company's furnaces, and to provide for its transportation to the Hokendauqua plant, the management united with the Crane Iron Co., in establishing the Cat- asauqua and Fogelsville Railroad in IS56, and in ISS2 secured the complete ownership of the Ironton Railroad. for handling the ore. coal, limestone, and iron. in the extensive manufac- turing operations at Hokendauqua and in doing this, sixteen locomotives became a daily nec- essity.
The town of Hokendauqua was laid out by the company Nov. 9. 1854. A number of the town-lots were sold, but subsequently they were re-purchased so as to be able to control the whole property, excepting one, which was owned by Joseph McFetridge (who was in the employ of the company from April IS, 1854, to 1905.
The company donated lots for school and church purposes, and also contributed $5,000 toward the Presbyterian church and parsonage.
In 1864, the town was established into an in- dependent school district and so continued for upwards of 40 years: and it was supported mainly by taxes assessed against the Company. The second floor of a large brick building was set apart by the Company for the use of its employees as a library and reading-room. This was continued until 1906.
The town has been supplied with spring water by the Company under a water system, pumped from a spring on the river-bank. The company
E. A. Douglass
Bethlehem-
Chas. A. Luckenbach
1008
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
erected handsome residences there for its general superintendent and superintendent, beside sub- stantial two-story brick dwellings for its employ- ees, numbering 148.
In 1904, the Company celebrated its semi-cen- tennial anniversary at Hokendauqua which was attended by stockholders and invited guests num- bering upwards of 500. Among its numerous em- ployees 88 were in its continuous employment up- ward of twenty years, 9 upward of forty years, and one of them even fifty years (Joseph Mc- Fetridge).
In 1904, the stock issued was 50,000 shares, held by 487 stockholders (211 men, 193 women, and 83 estates, trustees, and banks).
The company showed a remarkably patriotic
1897, and served as general superintendent fror 1867 to 1893.
Edwin Mickley was prominently identified with this Company from 1858 until 1889 in su perintending the mines, and constructing anc managing the furnaces in a successful manner.
Benjamin G. Clarke was president of the com- pany from 1887 to 1892, when John F. Knight succeeded him and served only two months, when he died. B. F. Fackenthal, Jr., was president of the company from 1893 to 1913. R. H. Sweetser is president, James W. Weaver, secretary, and W. E. McKee, superintendent of the company. The several furnaces and mines of the company are valued at $2,911,000, and its railroad hold- ings at over $1,000,000.
THE THOMAS IRON COMPANY IN 1859.
spirit in liberality to its employees, in the pay- ment of war taxes ($200,000 from July, 1864 to December, 1866), and in contributing $300 toward the Soldier's Monument in Fairview Cemetery.
David Thomas (after whom the Company was named) was connected with the Company from its organization in 1854 to his death in 1882.
Samuel Thomas, his son, was also connected with it from its organization to his death in 1906; served as superintendent at Hokendauqua from 1854 to 1864, and officiated as president from 1864 to 1887 (excepting one year, alto- gether 22 years).
John Thomas, another son, was also connect- ed with it from its organization to his death in
The different plants of the Company are : Hokendauqua, 6 furnaces (5 out of blast). Lock-Ridge (Alburtis), 2 furnaces.
Island Park, I furnace (Northampton county ). Hellertown, 2 furnaces (Northampton county).
The Company came to own about 6,400 acres of mining properties in New Jersey and about 1,600 acres in Pennsylvania (one-fourth being in Lehigh county), and at all the furnaces about 600 acres.
CAR-WHEEL AND AXLE-WORKS .- This in- dustry was established in 1866 in Whitehall township, between the Lehigh Valley R. R. and the public road to Allentown, a mile south of Catasauqua by James W. Fuller, James McKee, and others who traded under the name of Mc- Kee, Fuller & Co., for the manufacture of car-
WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.
1009
wheels. In 1879 the plant was enlarged by the addition of a forge and car-works, and by 1882 the business had increased so as to turn out up- wards of 1,800 eight-wheel railroad cars worth $2,800,000. In 1884 the capacity was increased to $4,000,000; the employees numbered from 1,200 to 1,500, whose monthly pay exceeded $25,000; and the length of the buildings ex- tended along the road for nearly a mile from Ferndale station to Gap Junction. In 1891 the manufacture of cars was abandoned, and the plant has since been directed toward car-wheels and general castings.
In 1901, the business was incorporated as the Lehigh Car Wheel and Axle Works, and besides car wheels, the production has since been special castings and crushing machinery, and the "Lehigh Fuller Pulverizing Mills." The employees num- ber from 200 to 250. Officers, James W. Ful- ler, president and general manager, and Joseph S. Elverson, secretary and treasurer.
LEHIGH FOUNDRY was established on prop- erty to the north in 1900 by James W. Fuller
repaired but the interior was never rebuilt. This occurred on a Saturday night when the employ- ees were away; otherwise, if in active operation, there might have been loss of life.
FREDERICK CAR-SHOPS .- In 1866, Thomas Frederick, Charles F. Beck, and Abraham Wis- ser associated as partners trading as Frederick & Co., for the manufacture of railroad cars in Whitehall township along the public road to Al- lentown a mile south of Catasauqua, and erected a large building, 1,000 feet long, which em- braced the foundry for car castings, blacksmith shop and car-shop. The employees numbered about 200 and the operations were carried on for nearly ten years when the company failed, owing to the general panic which prevailed from 1873 to 1876. The plant was purchased by McKee, Fuller & Co., and merged in their car-wheel works which adjoined it on the north.
JOHNSON STEEL WORKS .- In Whitehall township, nearly opposite the mouth of the Cat- asauqua creek, along the west bank of the Le- high river, Henry Johnson, a native of Eng-
LEHIGH CAR WHEEL AND AXLE WORKS, FULLERTON.
and others for the manufacture of gray-iron castings, and it has since been in successful ope- ration, under the management of the same of- ficials, with employees numbering from 50 to 150.
In 1876, H. K. Flagler, then of Boston, came to this locality to embark in a new enterprise for manufacturing iron tubing. He erected a building 500 feet long and 200 feet wide be- tween the Lehigh Foundry and the Fuller Car Wheel Works, equipped it with machinery, and manned the plant with 50 expert mechanics, who came with him; but by the time it came to be put into successful operation, it was purchased by the National Tube Works and dismantled. Then the property was secured by the Lehigh Car Wheel and Axle Works, and used as a shop for erecting and painting cars. In 1883 the in- terior part of the building between the ends was crushed in by a very heavy snow-fall, damaging many cars and two locomotives. The ends were
land, established a new and valuable industry on five acres of land for the manufacture of cold rolled steel (used in the production of plates of all kinds, keys, bells, clock-springs, and nickle- plated work of different varieties). This was in 1879, but he had hardly set his great enterprise in successful operation when he died, his death occurring in December, 1881.
The mill was one-story, 36 by 174 feet, with an annex 70 by 100 feet; equipped with special rolls run by four engines; and its monthly pro- duction was from 150 to 200 tons, which sold for $200 per ton. The employees were limited to four and six men.
His son, George, who had till that time be- come an expert mechanic in this particular line of work, then returned to Catasauqua from New York (where he had been engaged as a roller of cold steel), purchased the plant from his father's estate, improved it, and carried it on successfully until he died in 1903. In 1896 the nickel-plat-
from ified
om- ght en of er nd y.
and
IOIO
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
ing building, situated a short distance from the main building, was destroyed by fire but not re- built. The damaged end of the main building was repaired and the nickel-plating was aban- doned. He first effected his sales through an agent at New York City, but he soon secured enough trade by voluntary orders and these kept his plant very busy. He employed from 10 to 12 men. After his death, his widow conducted the plant for a year when she was obliged to suspend further operations on account of com- petition from larger mills of a similar character at Pittsburg, Haverstraw (N. Y.), and Cleve- land (O). The property is still owned by the estate. It has been occupied, under lease, by J. Arthur Williams, since 1907, who has conducted there the Hercules Metal Works for the manu- facture of high-grade brass, bronze, and copper castings.
Previously, from 1865, for several years, an establishment was carried on here for the man- ufacture of shovels and hoes by George W. Bogh and others; and they were followed by David G. Morris and his brother, Samuel, who occupied the buildings a few years in the man- ufacture of iron billets out of scrap iron, and forged drawheads for railroad cars.
Cold rolled steel was first made in the United States at Haverstraw in 1876 by Henry John- son, who introduced the process from England. Upon his locating at Catasauqua, at the termina- tion of his contract in 1879, he was the first to introduce the process in Pennsylvania.
HERCULES METAL WORKS .- On Jan. I, 1904, J. Arthur Williams, of Catasauqua, em- barked in the business of manufacturing high- grade brass, bronze, copper, and machine cast- ings, including a line of trolley wheels. He first leased the foundry of the Crane Iron Co., lo- cated at the east end of the furnace, and con- ducted the place there for three years; then he leased the northern part of the abandoned John- son Steel Mill in Whitehall township, along the public road to Allentown, a short distance south of the Catasauqua Race-street Bridge, equipped it with the necessary machinery, and there he has continued the business until the present time. He employs from four to six men.
HELFRICH MILL .- Jacob Wertz settled on a tract of 300 acres of land in Whitehall town- ship, along the Jordan creek, and secured a pat- ent for it in 1750, and he sold this tract to George Hoffman in 1751. Hoffman borrowed money in 1753, giving this land as security, and then, it is believed, he erected a log grist-mill on this land along the Jordan. This mill is men- tioned in 1770 in connection with religious serv- ices.
Michael Horlacher was the owner in 1754; and Christopher Blank in 1766, and twenty-four years afterward Blank sold to his son, George Adam, a part of the land including the mill, and the water-right for the mill-race. In 1802, Peter Grim became the owner, and in 1807 he erected a two-story stone mill on the site of the old log-mill. Grim died and left an only child, a daughter married to James Deshler, and upon her decease the stone grist-mill and 55 acres were purchased by Reuben Helfrich in 1872.
Helfrich operated the mill until his death in 1890, and during this time, the plant became known as the Helfrich Mill. In 1891, his son Thomas purchased the property, and he has car- ried on the milling business until the present time. A saw-mill adjoining was run from the beginning until 1807, and then this part of the industry was abandoned. A wide, well-kept mill-race extends to the mill from the Helfrich spring, about 60 perches to the north, several perches from the Jordan, and the large and con- stant flow of water from this spring, without the construction of a dam as a supply basin, has been the only source of power during the long period of 1160 years. This is the only grist-mill in the county now run in this manner, directly from a spring. Before 1900 there was a similar mill at the head of Cedar-creek, which was driven by the Schantz Spring, without even a mill-race.
NEWHARD MILL .- In 1746 George Frederick Newhard purchased 250 acres of land along the Jordan creek, which now adjoins Allentown at the northern extremity of Sixth street. In the partition of his estate in 1789 his son, Laurence, secured the southeastern portion of the land with rights for maintaining a mill dam and race on the tract to carry on a projected grist-mill. In 1790 Laurence erected a two-story stone mill along the Jordan, and carried on the milling busi- ness until his death in 1817, when the ownership of the mill passed to two of his sons, John and Daniel. In 1834 John became the sole owner of it and he continued the business until 1850. Subsequent owners until 1864 were John New- hard's son, Joseph, and Peter Roth. In 1865 Thomas Strauss purchased the mill and owned it until he died May II, 1913. He carried it on thirty years then leased it to Henry W. Schleifer, who has continued as tenant until the present time.
PAINT MILL .- On Aug. 1, 1867, Jacob Breinig, Alfred J. Breinig and Tilghman G. Hel- frich associated together for the manufacture of fertilizer, and they established a plant along the Mickley road in Whitehall township, near the Helfrich grist-mill. After conducting the busi- ness for seven years they enlarged the plant by
WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.
IOII
adding the manufacture of paint, and since then they have carried on the business under the name of Allentown Manufacturing Co., the production of paint being the principal part of the industry. They employ an average of twenty hands. This company became the successor of Jacob Breinig, who had started producing paint in 1855, and fertilizer in 1860.
NEWHARD STONE-CRUSHER .- In 1900, F. J.
blocks upward daily, and ornamental work ac- cording to orders.
The school-house was converted into a dwell- ing before 1850 by Reuben Helfrich who then enlarged it and for a number of years it was oc- cupied by foremen who superintended the quarry operations nearby.
GARBAGE CREMATORY was established in 1900 by the municipal authorities of Allentown along
VIEW OF LARGE SPRING.
Newhard put up a crusher-plant along the Mick- ley road in Whitehall, half a mile north of the city line of Allentown, on his farm of 76 acres, and here he has since carried on the business of supplying large quantities of crushed limestone for concrete work and paving. He averages 40 tons daily and employs from 8 to 12 hands. He is the last survivor in name of the Newhard fam- ily which first settled on this land in 1746, and has lived on the property since his birth in 1843.
the Mickley road in Whitehall about a mile north of the city line, for burning the garbage collected in the city and the plant has since been maintained there until the present time.
CLEAR SPRINGS WATER CO .- The White- hall Water Co. was organized by a Mr. Bal- liet in 1892 for the purpose of supplying Ce- menton with water by gravity from the Leisen- ring spring, a short distance west of the town; and this supply has been continued until the
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