History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 14

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: 948


USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II > Part 14


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HARVEY JONAS BASTIAN, son of Alfred and Amanda (Litzenberger) Bastian, was born at East Texas, Lehigh county, Oct. 7, 1868. He received his education in the public schools, and, in 1884, came to Allentown and entered the employ of Koch & Shankweiler, where he remained for nine years. In January, 1894, he started in business as a member of the firm of Bastian Brothers and Bastian, which firm con- tinued until the death of George J. Bastian in 1901, when the firm was changed to Bastian Brothers. In April, 1906, they removed their tailoring and gent's furnishing business to 540 Hamilton street. In January, 1909, Harvey E. Bastian withdrew from the firm and associated himself with Mr. Charles Rau under the firm name of Bastian and Rau, continuing in the same line of business at 830 Hamilton street.


In politics Mr. Bastian is a Democrat, and a member of St. Luke's Lutheran church, which he served as deacon for twelve years and as a trustee for about seven years. Fraternally he belongs to B. P. O. E. and I. O. R. M.


On Oct. 12, 1898, he was married to Julia, daughter of Tilghman Lichtenwalner, and re- sides at 509 N. Sixth street, Allentown.


Mr. Bastian is a member of St. Michael's Lu-


theran church, and served seven years as a deacon in that congregation. He is a member of Jordan Lodge, No. 673, F. & A. M., High Priest of Allen Chapter, No. 203, R. A. M., P. T. I. M. of Allen Council, No. 23, R. & S. M., of Allen Commandery, No. 20, Knights Templar, of Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Caldwell Consistory, 32, Bloomsburg, Pa., of St. Mary's Conclave, No. 5, Red Cross of Constantine, and of Mary Livingstone Chapter, No. 167, O. E. S. . He was married, Oct. 23, 1890, to Miss Annie M. Kistler, daughter of the late Rev. Reuben Kistler and Matilda Ritter. He has two children, Reuben J. and Mary R. Bastian, and resides at 1236 Chew street, Allentown.


CHARLES A. BACHMAN, D. D. S., son of Phaon Bachman, was born in Lynn township, Lehigh county, Sept. 10, 1873. He spent his boyhood days on the farm and attended the rural schools. By faithful application he prepared himself for the profession of teaching, and after teaching several years he studied dentistry in the College of Dental Surgery at Philadelphia, from which institution he was graduated in 1900. The following year he opened a office in Emaus, and by his skill and science has built up an extensive practice. Mr. Bachman is public-spirited and takes an active interest in whatever pertains to the material and moral welfare of the borough, of which he is a citizen. He was president of the Mercantile Club for several terms, and dur- ing the Golden Jubilee of Emaus was a mem- ber of the ways and means commitee and chair- man of the decoration committee. He is a mem- ber of the board of trade, the I. O. O. F. and also the Encampment. He is widely known in his profession and holds membership in the Lehigh Valley Dental Association, Pennsylvania State Dental Association, the Wilbur F. Litch Society of Stromathology and of the Susquehanna Valley Dental Association. He was married March 30, 1902, to Viola Erdman, a daughter of O. H. Erdman and his wife, Alvesta Kemmerer, of Steinsville, Bucks county, and a granddaughter of Henry and Elisabeth (Shimer) Erdman. She was educated in the local schools and Perkiomen Seminary. This union is blessed with three chil- dren. Mr. and Mrs. Bachman are members of the Reformed congregation in Emaus, in which he has served as elder. They resided in their beautiful home on Main street, where they are happy in the entertainment of their large circle of friends.


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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.


THOMAS Q. BATES.


Thomas Q. Bates was born in Whitehall town- ship, Lehigh county, in 1852, son of Benoni and Mary (Saunders) Bates.


Mr. Bates attended the public schools of his community and at the age of eleven years he came to Allentown and when fourteen years old entered the employ of M. J. Kramer, a well- known dry-goods merchant who was located at the corner of Sixth and Hamilton streets, Al- lentown. He remained in the employ of Mr. Kramer until the latter retired from business, at which time he became a trusted employee of Mr. Thomas Lucas & Sons, at Scranton, Pa. After- wards he became associated with Simpson, Clel- land & Taylor, which firm ultimately developed into the present well known concern trading under the name of John Taylor & Co., Allen- town, better known as the Globe Store at Sev- enth and Hamilton streets. Mr. Bates had been one of the proprietors of the Taylor & Co., for many years and when the firm opened their branch at Bethlehem he had charge of it there and continued to serve this responsible position until the time of his death which occurred on Feb. 8, 1914, at his late residence, No. 20 South Fourteenth street. This home Mr. Bates had built in 1908, and there his widow and family continue to reside.


Mr. Bates was a self-made man and possessed the virtues of absolute honesty, fidelity to duty, and a keen insight into business methods. He was a conservative but at the same time progres- sive and alert citizen. He never forgot his own beginning in life and was always willing to aid deserving young men in their endeavor to win success.


He was a member of the St. John's Reformed church, of Allentown. Fraternally he had mem- bership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His greatest enjoyment was in the as- sociation and fellowship of his wife and chil- dren and in pursuing his business duties. He en- joyed an untarnished reputation and his success- ful and useful life was "too brief."


Thomas Q. Bates was happily married, in 1882, to Alice S. Woodring, a daughter of C. Frank and Christiana (Keefer) Woodring. Their union was blessed with two daughters, as follows: Beulah W., married to Carl L. Go- ersch, of Allentown, who are the parents of one son: Carl Bates Goersch; and Effie Angie Bates, who resides with her mother.


LOUIS H. BAUM.


Louis H. Baum, druggist at Slatington, was born at Philadelphia, Pa., on Aug. 22, 1881. After receiving his preliminary education in the


local schools and Ursinus College, at College- ville, attended the Medico-Chi College, at Philadelphia, and also the American Optical Col- lege, from which he was regularly graduated. He then served as a prescription clerk in some of the best drug stores at Philadelphia for ten years, which gave him a large experience and qualified him as a specialist, and on April 1, 1906, located at Slatington for the purpose of carrying on the drug business, with special attention to the compounding of prescriptions and since then he has conducted the Baum Drug Store, at No. 320 Main street, in a very successful manner. One of his special preparations is "Baum's Corn Reme- dy," which is recognized as a superior article and has a wide sale.


Dr. Baum is a member of the New York & London Drug Co., and the American Druggists Syndicate ; also of Knights of Friendship, Knights of Pythias, and Foresters of America, at Slating- ton, and of the B. P. O. E., No. 130, at Allen- town. In politics he is a Republican; and he has served as a school director for two terms, offici- ating as president of the board for a time, his second term expiring in 1915.


Dr. Baum was married to Leona Hamilton, daughter of Alexander, a skilled musician, of Chester , Pa., and they have one child, Thelma H. His father is David H. Baum, and his mother was Anna Trefz, both natives of Germany.


BAUSCH FAMILY.


Adam Bausch, a native of Claystadt, Germany, emigrated to the United States in 1832, settling at Wormelsdorf, Berks county, Pennsylvania. He was born in the year 1808, and died Oct. 6, 1892, at Wormelsdorf where he and his wife are buried. He was married to Elizabeth, a daugh- ter of Rudolph Stoner. She was born at New- manstown, Lebanon county, Pa., in the year 1815 and died on Oct. 16, 1897. They were active members of the Evangelical church, in which Mr. Bausch served in the various offices. He was af- fectionately known as "Father" Bausch. He was a laborer and for many years was employed by his friend and fellow countryman, John Yost, who hailed from the same place in Germany as himself, but emigrated at an earlier date. The six children of this family follow: (1) Augustus; (2) Catharine, who was killed at the age of ten years by an insane man named John Seidert. This sad act aroused much sympathy for the afflicted family; (3) Franklin H .; (4) Sarah, a maiden lady ; (5) Adam M., who is unmarried. He and his sister, Sarah, live together at Wormelsdorf; (6) Mary is the wife of John B. Murtaugh, of Elizabeth, Pa.


Augustus Bausch was born Dec. 3, 1840. He


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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


was brought up upon the farin, and for six years he worked in the John Yost brewery in Wormels dorf. In 1856 he began clerking in stores. He was employed at Reading, Lebanon, Myers- town, Philadelphia, in Perry county, also in Wormelsdorf, to which place he returned in 1867, to engage in the mercantile business, which he followed until his death in 1912. He and family were members of the Salem United Evan- gelical Church, in which he held various offices, and was the superintendent of the Sunday school for many years.


In 1875, he married Emma C., daughter of Isaac Miller, formerly postmaster at Wormels- dorf. Their four children are: (1) Carrie M., married Rev. Edward C. Leinbach, a Reformed minister of Wormelsdorf; (2) Edna is the wife of Rev. Elmer Leinbach, a Reformed minister at Millersburg, Pa .; (3) Rev. Robert A., a minis- ter of the United Evangelical Church, and (4) Emma E.


Frank H. Bausch, of Allentown, was born at Wormelsdorf, Berks county, March 23, 1849. He came to Catasauqua in 1862 to live with an uncle. At fifteen years of age he learned the tin- smith, plumbing and gas-fitting trade, which he followed as journeyman some years. Later he clerked in the store; was a travelling salesman. For eighteen years he was a wholesale and retail dealer in confectionery and ice cream at Third and Hamilton streets, Allentown. After retiring from the business he became a salesman again and for ten years was employed by Zellner Brothers, tobacconists, of Allentown.


In 1875 he married Sadie, daughter of Wil- liam Cole, of Trenton, N. J., who came to Al- lentown when she was sixteen years old. They had five children, two of whom died young. Their other children are: Mary E. (m. Edward Harwick) ; Jennie W. (m. George Franck ) ; and Dr. Frederick R.


DR. FREDERICK R. BAUSCH, of Allentown, was born in that city, June 8, 1879. He was educated in the public schools; graduated from Allentown High School in 1896; graduated from Muhlenberg College in 1900; and the University of the South, at Sewanee, Tenn., in 1904. He was elected resident physician at the Pittston Hospital for the years 1904 and 1905. During 1906, he had charge of the practice of another physician and afterward he located at Allentown where he enjoys an extensive practice.


He is an active member of the Y. M. C. A., of Allentown ; and member of St. John's Luth- eran church, in which he held various offices. Mr. and Mrs. Bausch are also active in Sunday school work.


Socially he has membership in the following lodges: Barger Lodge No. 333, F. & A. M., Pittston Royal Arch Chapter, No. 242; Allen Commandery No. 20, K. T., Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Reading, F. M. C. No. 804; Order of Heptasophs, Lodge No. 130, B. P.O.E., and the Loyal Order of Moose


In Nov. 1911, Dr. Bausch was elected a coun- cilman from the First Ward. He is a member of the Board of Tuberculosis Dispensary No. 51, Department of Health, Pennsylvania; and mem- ber of the U. S. Board of pension examiners for Lehigh county, having been appointed in 1909 by President William H. Taft.


Dr. Bausch is connected with the following medical societies: Lehigh Valley Medical So- ciety, Lehigh County Medical Society, Pennsyl- vania State Medical Society, the American Med- ical Association; and is the Librarian of the Academy of Medicine, of Allentown.


On June 10, 1908, he was married to Mabel Rebecca Deisher, a daughter of Jacob and Rosa (Schmoyer) Deisher, residents of Allentown, and prominent members of the Evangelical church. Dr. and Mrs. Bausch are the parents of these children: Frederick R., Jr., and Doro- thea E.


WILLIAM BEALER.


William Bealer, of Allentown, Pa., was born in Springfield township, Bucks county, May 19, 1886. He is the son of Levi G. and Sarah A. (Meyers) Bealer, prosperous farming people of the county named. He attended the public schools of his native township and was graduated in 1903. Later he took three differ- ent courses in the Scranton Correspondence School and he holds three diplomas from that institution. He worked on the farm until he became twenty years old, then he was engaged as electrical engineer for the Bethlehem Steel Co., and he filled the position for five and one- half years, when failing health obliged him to resign. In October, 1911, he moved to Allen- town and accepted an outdoor position with the Colonial Life Insurance Co., and this position he filled until November, 1912, when he re- signed to engage in the real estate business. He is a large real estate owner in Allentown.


Mr. Bealer and family are Lutheran mem- bers of the Springfield Church in Bucks county. On May 20, 1910, he married Matilda A. Hottle, daughter of John and Alice (Mease) Hottle of Springfield township and they have twin sons, Claude and Clarence. Her parents have six sons and six daughters.


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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.


BECHTEL FAMILY.


John George Bechtel emigrated from Germany to America about 1740. He setted in Exeter township, Berks county, Pennsylvania, and there he owned land which he cultivated. His wife was Anna Mary Klingman and they had two children : George; and Catharine, who was married to Samuel Sands, and their children were: Cath- arine, Elizabeth, Hannah, Rebecca, Sarah, James, Samuel and John. George Bechtel had the fol- lowing children :


Mary, married Conrad Garver.


Elizabeth married Jacob Harner.


Hannah married Matthias Gilbert.


Catharine married John Yocum.


David was the father of Henry, David, Levi, Samuel, Harriet, Sarah, Matilda, Catharine, and Mary.


George was the father of Hannah, Sarah, Mary, Isaac, Peter, and Joseph, who had George, Jacob, David, and John.


William was the father of Peter, William, Thomas, Charles, Augustus, Francis, Frederick, Sarah, and Anna.


Jacob was the father of George, Harriet, Levi, Allen, Angeline, Mary, Francis, Richard, Fred- erick, and Lindsey.


Peter was the father of Mary, Rebecca, Wil- liam, Joshua, Reuben, Jonas, and Samuel.


John was the father of Susan, Sarah, Mary, Aaron, William, George, Jacob, Henry, John, and Samuel.


Abraham Bechtel, son of William, of Berks county, was born in the vicinity of Bechtelsville, Berks county, Pa., May 24, 1838. In the Civil War he was a member of Company G, 12th Regiment, Pa. Vol. Infantry. After the war he settled in Washington township, Lehigh county, and there worked at the long abandoned Lehigh furnace. Later he was employed in the slate quarries. His widow, Elizabeth Jane Lentz, still occupies the family homestead, near the Lehigh furnace. The family were members of the Slatedale Evangelical Church, in which the father served various offices. He and his fam- ily were much respected in the community. He died March 23, 1906, and is buried on the family plot at Slatedale. They had eleven chil- dren: Alavesta S. (m. Wm. Breish) ; John ; Mary (m. David Nicholas, of Cherryville, Pa.) ; Aaron (1871-1905) ; Sarah (deceased) ; Emma (m. T. A. Gerbig, of Scranton, Pa.) ; Frank W .; James R. (of California) ; Lewis O. (of Treich- ler's, Pa.) ; Thomas A .; and Dora. The last two are unmarried and reside with their mother.


FRANK W. BECHTEL, son of Abraham, was born at Slatedale, July 4, 1877. He is a truck


farmer and poultry raiser in North Whitehall township, since 1910. He was reared upon a farm near the old Lehigh furnace and there he attend- ed the public schools, and he also attended the Slatington High School. He was granted a teacher's certificate in 1895 and then taught school in Washington township for seven suc- cessive terms. Afterward he bought the prop- erty, stock, and good-will of the Slatedale bak- ery, which he conducted for more than seven years, when he sold it to the present proprietor, E. J. Gross.


On Oct. 1, 1910, he purchased an excellent farm of 50 acres, situated one-fourth mile north of Neff, in Lehigh county. It was the home- stead of Stephen Miller. and he was succeeded by his son, John Miller. Stephen Miller erected the present large brick residence on the place.


Socially he is a member of these lodges: Camp No. 216, Sons of Veterans; Star of the North Commandery No. 92, Knights of Malta; Lodge No. 294, Knights of Pythias; and Modern Woodmen of America No. 8304, all of Slating- ton, Pa.


He was united in marriage Jan. 1, 1903, to Mabel C. Kistler, a daughter of Charles Kis- tler, whose full history appears elsewhere in this volume.


BECK FAMILY.


This family is an old Northampton county family and has been prominently identified with the medical profession in that county for a num- ber of years. The following facts are gathered from the records in the Northampton county court house. A petition dated Jan. 9, 1767, of William Beck, of Moore township, whose father Henry had died leaving a widow and six chil- dren. Another petition dated Feb. 8, 1779, of Frederick Beck, oldest son of William Beck, of Moore township. The following wills are also recorded in the same court house. George Beck, Sr., of Nazareth township, made a will dated Nov. 18, 1791, proved Sept. 4, 1792. It men- tions his wife Catharine and these children: Andrew, Anna Mary, wife of Thomas Hartman ; Henry, Margaret, wife of John Hill; Anna Elizabeth and George. Jacob Beck, of Upper Mt. Bethel, made his will July 8, 1815, which was probated July 31, 1819. It mentions his wife Mary and that there were twelve children but does not mention their names. George Lud- wig and son-in-law Jacob Reimel were the execu- tors.


Peter Beck was the progenitor of one line of this family. His son John Henry was the father of George H. Beck who was born on the old Beck homestead in Lower Nazareth township,


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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


April 1, 1798. He was married to Elizabeth Johnston, who was born in 1800 and they be- came the parents of eleven children: Henry J., Jacob, John P., Charles F., William G., Simon P., Elizabeth, Sabina, Samuel J., Jones E., Ste- phen C. Mr. Beck died in 1879 and Mrs. Beck died in 1876.


Charles F. Beck, son of George H. and Eliza- beth Beck, was born in Nazareth township, Northampton county, March 14, 1831. He re- mained on his father's farm until he was seven- teen years old when he was employed in a gro- cery store and later in a lumber yard. From 1852 to 1854 in company with his brother he conducted a general merchandise store at Naza- reth. In 1854 he took charge of the American Hotel and conducted it for nine years. In 1864 he formed a partnership with Thomas Frederick and the firm known as Frederick & Co. started the car shops in Fullerton. For a number of years he was traveling salesman for Allen, Son & Co., of Philadelphia.


He was one of the moving spirits in the organ- ization of the English Lutheran Church in Cata- sauqua in which he took a keen interest. In 1854 was married to Catharine a daughter of Solomon" Biery. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Beck: George F., an accomplished mu- sician, a graduate of the New England Con- servatory of Music of Boston; David J., Frank- lin C., Henry S. and an infant.


FRANKLIN C. BECK, of Catasauqua, was born April 29, 1861. He learned the machinist trade when a young man, which he followed four years. He was employed as clerk at Sixth and Hamilton, Allentown, and at Bethlehem, with Riegel, Courtright & Solt. From 1884 to 1889 he con- ducted a general merchandise store at 236 Front street, Catasauqua. He conducted the Catasau- qua news agency until 1908.


In July, 1911, he became the senior member of the firm of Beck & Frey, plumbers, gas and steam fitters. Mr. Beck belongs to the Republi- can party. He was elected assessor of the Fourth ward in Catasauqua in 1911. He is a trustee of Trinity Lutheran Church since 1906. In 1886 he was married to Sarah E. Scheidy, a daughter of Reuben and Eliza A. (Keck) Scheidy. Issue: May C. and Helen S.


Among the sisters of Reuben Beck were Lo- vina, married to Jacob Kuntz and Elizabeth, married to Owen Brong. He was a shoemaker by trade and conducted a hotel at Kreidersville for thirty-six years, retiring in 1888. He died in 1890, aged 74 years. He was a Democrat and was Postmaster at Kreidersville for one year. He was married to Henrietta Cole with whom he


had the following children: Nathaniel, Amanda, wife of Aaron Laubach, and Milton C.


MILTON C. BECK, of Cementon, was born at Kreidersville, Aug. 18, 1852. At the age of 18 years he learned the coachmaking trade which he followed three years at Egypt, and later at Nazareth. In 1876 he moved to Catasauqua, and in 1888 he succeeded his father in the hotel business at Kreidersville. Later he moved to Allentown, where he resided until 1893, when he moved to Cementon, where he has since re- sided and follows wheelwright work. He is a member of the Reformed congregation at Ce- menton, which he served at a deacon. In 1880 he was married to Sabina, daughter of Tilgh- man Kohler.


FRANKLIN P. BECK.


Franklin P. Beck, farmer of Lowhill, was born July 10, 1852, in the township, near Bitt- ner's Corner, and there brought up and educated until he became sixteen years old. He then at- tended the Keystone State Normal School for one term, and learned the trade of tailor under his father. He followed this occupation, assist- ing his father for twenty years; and afterward several years by himself. In 1892, he bought the farm of 116 acres where he resides and since then has carried on farming in a successful man- ner. He has served as a school director since 1893, acting as secretary of the Board; also as postmaster of the Lowhill office from 1875 to 1905, when the office was discontinued on ac- county of the introduction of the Rural Free De- livery through that section of territory.


In 1877, Mr. Beck, was married to Sophia H. German, daughter of Jonas, a merchant and farmer at New Tripoli; and they have two children: Charles F., and Daisy I.


Charles F., the son, was married to Ellen I. Bittner and they have two children, Ellwood H. and Ralph F .; and Daisy I., the daughter, was married to Robert E. Brobst and they had three children: Earl F., Warren S., and Paul W .. the last-named having died in infancy.


Charles E. Beck, the father of Franklin, was born Sept. 17, 1825, in Maxatawny township, in Berks county, and there brought up and edu- cated in the township school. His parents then moved to N. Whitehall and there he learned the trade of tailor under his father and he con- tinued with him until he married in 1851, when he located in Lowhill township. He followed tailoring for thirty-five years. He served as treasurer of the Lowhill church for many years, and as postmaster of the Lowhill office for ten years, from 1865 to 1875, when he was suc- ceeded by his son. He died Dec. 18, 1875. He


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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.


was married to Caroline George, daughter of Peter George and his wife, Rosina Werley; and they had two children: Franklin P. (above) was born June 15, 1830, and died Feb. 9, 1907.


His wife's father, Jonas German, was born in Heidelberg township, June 3, 1823, where he was reared and educated. He afterward located at New Tripoli, where he carried on store-keep- ing and farming for many years. He died July 5, 1900. He was married to Maria Haerter (Harter), daughter of Jacob Haerter and his wife, Lydia Blos, and they had four children : Sophia H. (above) ; Henry W. (m. Lucinda Steiger) ; Louise H. (m. James A. Miller), and Tevillia A., who died when twelve years old. Her grandfather was Jacob German, who mar- ried Catharine Stemler.


BECKER FAMILY.


John Becker, was a native of Upper Milford township and there he is buried. He was a farmer by occupation. He married Mary Sharp. They were members of the Evangelical Church. Their children were: John, William, Solomon, Jonathan, Samuel, and Lydia, married to a Sicher.


Solomon Becker, son of John, was born in 1827. He came to Allentown in 1852, and fol- lowed the carpenter trade. During the Civil War he had enlisted for three years in Company G, 147th Regiment, as a sergeant. After the war he continued to follow his trade up to two years before his death, which occurred in June, 1904. He married Susanna, daughter of Jesse Bitting, of Upper Milford. They had eleven children, namely: Henry, Maria, Charles, Em- ma, Carrie, Obediah, Hannah, William, Samuel, George, and Clara, twins.


Obediah Becker, son of Solomon, is the su- perintendent of the Rescue Mission, at Allen- town. He was born April 14, 1859, learned the shoemaking trade at the age of sixteen and this he followed up to 1903. In 1892 he was soundly converted to God, and after January 19th of that year until the present time he has taken an active interest in religious work. He has served the Evangelical Church as class-leader, Sunday school teacher and was active in Christian En- deavor work. He was instrumental in estab- lishing the Rescue Mission, of which he has been the efficient superintendent ever since. The United Evangelical Church in 1909, granted him a local license to preach the Gospel, and in 1911, the annual conference of the church which con- vened in Seibert church, Allentown, granted him a regular license. He conducts daily services at the mission, and has preached in different churches in eastern Pennsylvania.




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