USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II > Part 114
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Nov. 12, 1881. They had ten children: Jacob; Joshua; Maria E., married Jacob W. Fisher; Eliza, married Daniel S. Siegfried; Fiana E., married Lewis Fisher; John G .; Sarah A., mar- ried (first) E. B. Shuey, (second) William H. Hess; William G .; Daniel; and Charles A.
William G. Hinterleiter, son of Daniel, was born April 4, 1844, in Maxatawny township. He was brought up on the homestead farm, which was in the family for over 130 years and which he afterward came to own. He learned to follow a mercantile life and located at Kutztown, where he conducted a dry goods business in a most successful manner until his decease. He also owned a store at Hazleton, which was car- ried on for him by his son, Raymond. He was a man of great enterprise and encouraged home affairs, having been a director in the Kutztown National Bank, and the silk mill. For many years he was prominently identified with the Trinity Lutheran church at Kutztown, and is credited with having been chiefly instrumental in its erection. In this church he was the choir leader for many years. He died July 3, 1903. He was married to Kate S. Bear, of Oley, Berks county, in 1874, and they had six children : Irene Viola, a graduate of the Kutztown Normal School, and a student at Wilson College; Asher V., died in infancy; Florence M., married Dr. Elmer Maurer, of Ashland, and has two chil- dren: Catharine and Florence M .; Raymond W .; Arthur B .; and Mabel K., who died aged 9 years.
Mrs. Hinterleiter is a daughter of David and Harriet (Schwartz) Bear, of Trexlertown. Mr. Bear had a tannery at Friedensburg, and was also a farmer. He had ten children: Francis; William; David, a tanner and farmer, married Esther De Turck; Mary S., married Daniel Ber- tolet, of Stephens, Lancaster county; Edwin, a farmer in Virginia, married Catharine Bertolet ; Catharine S .; and Alfred, John, Harriet, and Lewis, who died young.
RAYMOND W. HINTERLEITER, son of William G., was born at Kutztown, July 6, 1883. He received his preliminary education in the borough schools and his higher education in the normal school and in a Philadelphia business college, from both of which he was graduated. He then entered his father's dry goods store at Kutztown, and becoming qualified in this manner for busi- ness, he was placed in charge of his father's Hazle- ton store, which he conducted successfully until February, 1909, when he embarked in the mer- cantile business at Allentown, where he has since carried on a store in a successful manner.
FRANK J. HITZEL.
Frank J. Hitzel, large manufacturer of barrels and kegs at Allentown and Bethlehem, was born April 17, 1876, at West Bethlehem, in Lehigh county, where he received his education in the public schools until he became fourteen years of age. Then he learned the trade of making barrels and kegs under his father, after which he followed the trade at various places in Penn- sylvania and New Jersey, more especialy at Naz- areth, Siegfried's and Easton. With this experi- ence as a journeyman, he took charge of the barrel making department of Henry Erwin & Sons' Works at Bethlehem, as manager, in man- ufacturing paint barrels, which position he filled successfully for eleven years. In 1911, he em- barked in the business for himself and established a plant in Bethlehem, at Mauch Chunk road and Elizabeth avenue, which he named "Monocacy Barrel Works," and there he has continued until the present time. His extensive trade required the enlargement of his works, and to answer his business requirements, in 1913, he established another large plant at Allentown on Railroad street. He employs twenty hands and has two plants constantly busy filling orders from Beth- lehem, Easton, Allentown, Reading, Catasauqua, Freemansburg, Mertztown, and Lincoln, N. J.
In 1905, Mr. Hitzel was married to Emma E. Lewis, daughter of Jeremiah and Emma (Reidy) Lewis. He has become affiliated with the Moose and the Woodmen of the World ; he is a mem- ber of the Catholic Church, and in politics he is a Democrat.
His father, Valentine Hitzel, was born in 1834, learned the trade of cooper and followed it there until he became twenty-eight years of age; then he emigrated to America and located at West Bethlehem, in Lehigh county, where he embarked in the business of manufacturing bar- rels. His shop was on River street, and there he continued for a period of fifty-one years, until 1913, when he retired. He resides in his old home at Seventh and Market streets, where he enjoys good health, contentment and the rewards of a well spent life at the advanced age of four score years. In politics he is a Democrat. In 1865, he was married to Barbara Cappello, a daughter of Joseph and Catharine (Hufnagel) Cappello. She was born April 13, 1838 and is in the enjoyment of fine health in retired life with her aged husband. They are members of the Catholic Church. They had seven children : Charles; Lena, m. Christian Volle; Margaret, m. Harry J. Roth; Joseph; John, (deceased) ; Augustus H. (barrel maker), and Frank J.
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
MORRIS HOATS.
Andrew Hoats, a native of Zinzendorf, Ger- many, came to America on the ship Phoenix, which arrived at Philadelphia, Aug. 28, 1750. He settled in Heidelberg township, where he was taxed £3 on 100 acres of land in 1764. He and his wife, Elizabeth Barbara, had two sons, An- drew, and John George. The latter was born Sept. 27, 1769. Andrew Hoats, Jr., married Eva, daughter of Jacob Wenner, and had two children: George and Salome. George Hoats lived in Berks county and married Judith Fether- olf.
Samuel Hoats, son of George, was born March 13, 1827, died Aug. 4, 1899. At the age of eighteen years he came to Allentown and en- gaged in tailoring, but was subsequently for many years engaged in the insurance business on Hamil- ton street. He was a member of St. John's Lu- theran church. He married Mary Dorothy, daughter of John J. and Hannah (Eckert) Krause. She was born Oct. 17, 1834, and died April II, 1907. Mr. Krause was a clockmaker in Allentown, served in the Legislature from 1821 to 1823, and was burgess of the borough from 1830 to 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Hoats had two children: Morris; and Mary C., wife of Wm. H. Boner, a music dealer, of Wanamaker, Pa.
Morris Hoats, Esq., son of Samuel, was born in Allentown, April 9, 1857. He was educated in a private school in Allentown, at Muhlenberg College, and at Princeton University, where he studied law and was graduated in 1877. He then studied law with Hon. Edward Harvey, was admitted to the bar in 1880, and has since practiced his profession at Allentown. He became actively interested in the slate industry, and was a stockholder and secretary of the Eureka and Blue Valley Slate Companies, and is now a director of both companies. He was one of the organizers and is now a director of the Merchants National Bank. Mr. Hoats was a member of the National Guard from 1883 to 1898, first as a member of Company B; was appointed inspector of rifle practice of the Fourth Regiment in 1887; was adjutant from 1888 to 1890; and battalion ad- jutant from 1895 to 1898, when he resigned. He is a member of St. John's Lutheran church, and in politics is a Republican. He is also a mem- ber of the Society of American Whigs, of Prince- ton University; Phi Gamma Fraternity; Allen- town Lodge of Elks; National Geographic So- ciety ; and Knights of Malta; and is a member of the Board of Governors of the Livingstone Club. Mr. Hoats married Nora, daughter of John Henry Nelson, a farmer, of Frederick county, Md., who died in 1868, and his wife, Janet
Adams, daughter of Valentine and Sarah (Thomas) Adams, also of Maryland.
ZACHARY W. HOATS.
Dennis W. Hoats, son of George, was born in Heidelberg township, near Peter's foundry, in 1821. He was first a tailor, and from 1860 until his death, which occurred on Jan. 1, 1907, he was the proprietor of Penn Hotel, at Allentown.
He was married to Louisa Stahler, and their issue was: Louisa, married to Casper Shimer, of Allentown, they have a son, Elmer T .; Zach- ary T .; Milton, deceased, was married to Emma Herman, of Allentown.
Zachary T. Hoats, of Allentown, was born Dec. 14, 1848, in North Whitehall township. Until 1860 he attended the public schools of his native township, and from that date until 1865, he was a student in the Homeopathic Medical School at Allentown. After that date until his retirement in 1908, he was engaged in the paint- ing and decorating business in Allentown, having enjoyed a large and successful business.
He and family are members of Salem Reformed church; in politics he is a Republican, and so- cially a member of Camp No. 63, P. O. S. of A. He resides at No. 715 North Seventh street.
On Oct. 27, 1867, he married Amanda Butz, a daughter of Peter Butz, of Allentown. Their children are: William C., married to Minnie Haines, daughter of William R. Haines, of Al- lentown. They have one child, Marion E .; Dora, married to Henry J. Mack, auditor of the Bethlehem Steel Company, they reside at Bethle- hem; Preston D., who died in infancy.
OSCAR S. HOCH.
Oscar S. Hoch, cement contractor, of 226 North Thirteenth street, Allentown, was born in Richmond township, Berks county, July 6, 1866. His father, Joel H. Hoch, a farmer and large land owner, of Fleetwood, married Sarah, daugh- ter of Jonathan Shaffer and wife, nee Barto, and had five children: Caroline, wife of Thomas Robinson, of Philadelphia; Jeremiah, an oil dealer of Delaware, Ohio; Oscar S .; Emma, wife of Morris Shaffer, of Fleetwood, and Ed- mond, of Topton. Oscar S. was educated in the common schools and in a private school at Fleet- wood. Until 26 years of age he was employed on his father's farm, when he removed to Allentown, and with his own team entered the business of hauling freight, etc. Subsequently he became a cement contractor, in which business he has been successful and now employs over fifty men and owns fifteen two-horse teams. He is an enter- prising and progressive businessman and in poli- tics is independent. He is a member of Salem's
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Evangelical church and has always been promi- nently connected with church work.
Mr. Hoch married at Reading, in 1892, Mary M., daughter of John and Sallie (Deysher) Angstadt, of Fleetwood, and has three children : Charles H., a graduate of the Allentown Busi- ness College, now a bookkeeper in his father's of- fice; Pauline E., and Christine M.
HOFFMAN FAMILY.
Michael Hoffman from Germany emigrated to Pennsylvania, landing at Philadelphia, Oct. 17, 1732, and shortly afterward settled on a large tract of land on Indian or Coplay Creek, in the territory now embraced in North Whitehall township, Lehigh county. He took out a war- rant for his land on November 16, 1744. He died in 1786. In the year 1758, his wife Eva stood sponsor for Anna Elizabeth, daughter of Johannas and Maria Catharine Hoffman. He was past middle age at the time of his emigration. They had two sons Michael and Johannas and probably some daughters. The baptismal records of the Egypt Reformed Church give the follow- ing information :
Michael and Eva Catharine Hoffman had
Catharine Elizabeth, baptized March 27, 1739 Joh. Michael, b. May 27, 1752; bapt'd Oct. 3, 1752
Johannes and Maria Catharine Hoffman had
Anna Elizabeth, b. -, bapt'd Sept. II, 1758 Eva Catharine, b. Oct. 30, 1767, bap'd Nov. 22, 1767 Johannas, b. May 11, 1769, baptized June -, 1769 Maria M., b. May 18, 1771, baptized June 2, 1771 Michael, b. Sept. 4, 1774, baptized Oct. 17, 1774
One William Hoffman, born Jan. 14, 1749, died on Mar. 16, 1824, aged 75 years, 2 months and 2 days, was married to Elizabeth born June 15, 1757, died Feb. 23, 1841. They had twelve children and are buried at Union- ville. He may have been a son of either Michael or Johannas Hoffman.
Michael Hoffman, the second, on Dec. 8, 1756, bought a tract of 167 acres of land situated in Heidelberg (now Washington) township; and on Aug. 1, 1765, he purchased an adjoining tract of 55 acres. These tracts were bounded by vacant lands, except ten rods of it which adjoined the property of a previously settled pioneer of that section. This land continued to be occupied by his sons and their descendants. Tradition states that he had a number of children some of whom settled in western states. Record is made of the 222 acres in the court house at Easton, in Deed Book E, Vol. I, p. 407, and bear date June 12, 1 787.
John Michael, his son, obtained a part, if not
all, of the above tract of land. He sold his property on June 16, 1819, to his son Heinrich.
Henry Hoffman, son of Michael, was born June 27, 1778, died on Nov. 2, 1858. He owned and operated one of the Hoffman homesteads, all his life. He and his family were members of the Reformed congregation of the Unionville Church where they were buried.
He married Salome Peter, born Aug. 16, 1791, died on June 17, 1872. Issue: Henry, Solomon, Elias, and Catharine, who married George Krouse.
Solomon Hoffman, son of Henry, was born in Washington township. He attended the old pay school at Unionville. He purchased his father's farm of 80 acres, Dec. 31, 1845, where he resided all his life. He built the present log. house in 1844.
Solomon Hoffman married Sallie Hensinger, daughter of Jacob Hensinger. Issue: Mary (Mrs. E. A. Troxell) ; Elias; Catherine (Mrs. Henry Savitz) ; Amelia ( Mrs. Thomas Kress- ler ) ; Sarah (Mrs. David Semmel) ; Frank H .; Lewis; Josephine ( Mrs. Henry Mantz) ; Jacob; Edwin; David; and Ellen ( Mrs. James Bloss).
Elias Hoffman, son of Heinrich, was born in Washington township and raised on this home- stead which his father divided among his three sons, Elias, Henry, and Solomon in 1845. He was a life long farmer. His wife, Polly, was a daughter of Nicholas Kern, and their six chil- dren were: Emeline, Benjamin, Madina, Josiah, Jane, and Edward. They are buried at Union- ville.
Henry Hoffman, son of Michael, was born in Washington on Nov. 21, 1816. He was a farmer and carried on the farm now occupied by Josiah Kern. The latter years he spent with his son, Joel, near Newside and there he died in 1900, aged 84 years. He is buried at Union- ville. Both he and his wife were members of the Reformed congregation at that place. He served the office of deacon and elder in the church for many years. His wife Rebecca Handwerk was born March 13, 1816, and died in July, 1887. Their children were: Sally Ann (m. Jeremiah Kern), Joel, Alfred, and Caroline (b. July 23, 1851, married Lafayette German).
Frank H. Hoffman, son of Solomon and Sallie ( Hensinger) Hoffman, was born in Sept., 1854. He spent his youth upon his father's farm, and attended the public schools and after putting aside his books, he made an extended trip through- out Ohio. After returning home he rented a farm for a number of years. He subsequently purchased his father's homestead and made many improvements thereto and it is now in an ex- cellent condition. The property has been in the
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
Hoffman name since it was originally taken up by the pioneer settler, Michael Hoffman. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman are members of the Reformed Church at Unionville, of which he is a deacon. He is also a member of the J. O. A. M.
Frank J. Hoffman married (first) in 1876, Alice M. Bloss, daughter of Edwin and Mary ( Heintzleman ) Bloss. Issue: Albert L., Harvey F .; Emma E. ( Mrs. George Greene) ; Samuel E .; Estella (Mrs. Daniel George) ; Mabel (Mrs. John Riedy) ; Victor; Claude; and Clarence Hoffman.
Frank H. Hoffman married (second) Rosa Seibert, daughter of Jonas Seibert.
ALBERT L. HOFFMAN, son of Frank H., was born in Washington township, March 2, 1877. He was educated in the township schools also at Catasauqua where he became a clerk in the store for E. A. Troxell, whom he served for a period of six years, and later he filled a similar position with J. W. Peters at Egypt. In 1904, he was admitted into the firm under the name of J. W. Peters and Company. This firm enjoys a successful business.
In the year 1903, he married Sallie, a daughter of Alfred and Mary (Wilson) Troxell. They have these children: Thomas F., Mary E., and Albert L., Jr.
He and family are Reformed members of the Egypt church. Socially he is a member of Chap- man Lodge, No. 637, F. & A. M. at Siegfried ; Lodge No. 269, I. O. O. F., at Catasauqua; the K. G. E., and the Improved Order of Redmen, both of Egypt; and the P. O. S. of A., of Catasauqua.
Mr. Hoffman is a Republican, and is one of the township commissioners.
Harvey F. Hoffman, son of Frank H., was born in Catasauqua on August 31, 1879, while his father lived in that borough, but he was brought up on a farm in Washington township where he lived until 1900; then he became a clerk in a general store at Catasauqua conducted by E. A. Troxell whom he succeeded on Jan. 1, 1906, having then purchased the property which is lo- cated at Fourth and Walnut Sts. Mr. Hoffman is attentive to his business and a prosperous mer- chant. In 1912 he built a large addition to the store. On September 26, 1902, he married Re- della Weiss, a daughter of John and Annie (Scholl) Weiss, of Carbon county, Pa., and they have one son, Raymond Franklin.
Heinrich Hoffman was a farmer near Saegers- ville. He.is buried on the homestead. His wife was Catharine Miller, and their children were: Nathan, Peter, John Henry, Jonas (who went west), Catharine (m. George Bennighoff, who died in 1853), and Sarah (m. Philip Gumbert).
Nathan and Peter each owned part of the home- stead; their brother, John, owns an adjoining farm. Henry likewise had a farm in Heidelberg. After Mrs. Bennighoff became a widow she kept house for her brother, Peter, until, like his broth- er, Nathan, he met with a "sudden death." As was customary in that time, they were buried on a private graveyard.
Jonas Hoffman, son of John, was born Sept. 14, 1832, and died at Slatington, April 23, 1908, aged 72 years. He was a tailor by trade. For three years he kept the hotel at Newhards, and for five years the hotel at Lehigh Gap. He then moved to Slatington and purchased the Bittner House, which he conducted for eighteen years then sold it to Henry Bittner. He also owned upwards of thirty acres of land in Slatington upon which he built a number of houses. He was a director of the Slatington National Bank and a councilman of that borough. His wife was Hattie Lentz and they have three children: John, Frank, and Alice.
John Hoffman, son of Jonas, is a resident at Friedensville ( Hoffmans P. O.). He was born Dec. 10, 1855, and followed farming for some years. For fifteen years he was the postmaster at Hoffmans, which office he established. He married Ann Peter and they have an only son, Francis P., who was born Jan. 25, 1876. For fifteen years the son conducted a general store at Hoffmans. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A. He served as a deacon of Friedens Church Reformed congregation for four years. He mar- ried Laura, a daughter of David Reber.
Frank R. Hoffman, son of Jonas, was a slater 'at Slatington for some years; then he was em- ployed by John Deyer, an extensive contractor at Conshohocken. He was appointed by Gov. Henry M. Hoyt, a First Lieut. of the Slating- ton Rifles, in Company H., Fourth Regiment In- fantry, on Feb. 21, 1882, for a term of five years. He died at Conshohocken. His wife was Min- nie Schertzinger, and she was married a second time to Alfred Whetstone. Mr. and Mrs. Hoff- man had three children: Henry (died small), M. Alice (m. Morris Handwerk), and Harriet H. (m. to Charles Lentz).
Benjamin Hoffman, son of Elias, son of Hein- rich, lived at Catasauqua. His wife was Emma Kistler, and they had two daughters: Kate (m. Edward Luckenbach), and Minnie.
Josiah P. Hoffman, son of Elias, is a farmer in North Whitehall. He married Alice Kuhns, a daughter of David Kuhns. They have seven children, one of whom is Martin C.
Joel Hoffman, son of Heinrich, was born May 7, 1842. He learned the carpenter trade when a young man, and followed it with farming for
576
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
some years. In 1886 he moved upon the farm near Newside where Harvey A. Hoffman, his son, now lives and there he farmed until his death in May, 1904. His wife Attillia, is a daughter of Adam and Maria Magdalena (Kline) Scherer. They were Reformed mem- bers of Unionville church. He served the church as deacon and elder. Their children were: Har- vey A .; Irwin; Ulysses; Erastus; and Granville. The last three are deceased; Emma (m. James Bachman of Allentown) ; Eleanor (m. Wilson Schaffer of Newside) ; and Cora (m. Jeremiah Peter, of Lowhill).
Alfred P. Hoffman, son of Henry, was born Jan. 15, 1848. He had an 83-acre farm near Best Station where he lived. He died Nov. - , -, and is buried at Unionville. His wife was Attillia M. Krause. Their three children are: Aquilla (m. Lewis W. Roth), Blassius G., and Lillie E. (m. Herbert Hoffman).
BLASSIUS G. HOFFMAN was born in Washing- ton township, Dec. 20, 1873. He is lo- cated along the Slatington Trolley line on one of the very fine and up-to-date farms of the township. He began farming on his father's homestead in 1896 and this he later purchased and cultivated until March 14, 1906; then he moved upon his present farm situated between Neffsville and Slatington, a tract of 83 acres, which lies in the potato belt. He is an exten- sive potato farmer. The farm was known, years back, as the "Rudy Stand." In 1911 he remod- eled the large stone house and beautified the sur- roundings, making it a most attractive home.
He and his family are members of the Re- formed congregation at Unionville. He is an active Republican and in 1909 was elected a road commissioner of the township. On Oct. 6, 1894, he married Lillie L., daughter of Moses Metz- ger (whose full history appears in this volume). They have an only son, Raymond Henry.
HARVEY A. HOFFMAN was born Sept. 19, 1875. He owns his father's homestead near Newside which comprises 87 acres of excellent farm land. He was a tenant farmer for six years, and upon the death of his father pur- chased the old stand which he now cultivates. On this tract there is a large brick house which was built in 1885 which has a beautiful lawn surrounding it. The farm was a Klotz home- stead.
Mr. Hoffman is a deacon of the Reformed con- gregation at Unionville. In. 1898 he married Cora Miller, a daughter of Edwin and Lean (Handwerk) Miller, and they have three chil- dren : Rufus, Leroy, and Retta.
WILLIAM H. HOFFMAN.
John Hoffman was a farmer in Lynn town- ship, where he owned upwards of 300 acres of land. He was connected with the Reformed congregation of the Ebenezer church and was buried in the cemetery there. His wife was Catharine Hunsicker and their children were: Polly, married Joseph Smith; Lydia, married Elias Roeder ; Sarah, married Stephen Wehr ; and Elias.
Elias Hoffman, son of John, established the first coal yard at New Tripoli, along the Schuyl- kill and Lehigh Railroad, about the time of open- ing the Berks County Railroad, which was the predecessor of the railroad mentioned ; and he car- ried on a farm of 71 acres, in connection with the coal business. He was a prominent member of the Reformed congregation of Ebenezer church, which he served as deacon and elder, having died while serving the latter office.
His wife was Lydia, daughter of Michael Wehr, and they had four children, of whom two died in infancy ; Owen, died when two years old ; and William H., whose history follows.
WILLIAM H. HOFFMAN, of New Tripoli, the extensive potato dealer and grain and coal mer- chant, was born in Lynn township, March 4, 1868.
He was educated in the common schools and was reared upon the farm, following an agricul- tural pursuit until in 1900, after which he suc- ceeded D. N. Leiby in the grain, coal and potato business at New Tripoli, which was established by Elias Hoffman, his father, and the latter was succeeded to the business by William F. Krause, who conducted it for twelve years, being succeed- ed by D. N. Leiby, who conducted it for three years.
Mr. Hoffman built up one of the largest ship- ping points on the Schuylkill and Lehigh Rail- road. In 1912 he shipped 161,000 bushels of po- tatoes alone, or about 230 carloads of potatoes. He shipped as many as eleven carloads of pota- toes in one day. His shipments of potatoes, grain, etc., amount annually to 325 carloads. William H. Hoffman is an able and conservative business man. He has made himself of great service and value to his community in finding a ready market for the potato growers, an industry which he helped to build up, he being an exten- sive potato planter himself.
Mr. Hoffman owns and operates the Clauss farm of 98 acres, which was formerly a Heintz- leman homestead and is now in the highest state of cultivation, improved with good, substantial buildings. He has become affiliated with the
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
Odd Fellows, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Junior Order of United American Me- chanics. He is a liberal contributor and promi- nent member of the Reformed congregation of the Ebenezer church, which he served in the office of deacon, being now one of the elders of the church.
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