History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 15

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 15

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In 1877 he married Rosa E., daughter of John Eisenhart, of Allentown. They had eleven chil- dren, all of whom are deceased, except Mrs. Elsie Wertman; Mrs. Beulah Wieand; Harold; and Florence.

BEEBE FAMILY.

The Beebe family have resided in the state of Pennsylvania for many generations.

Daniel Beebe, who lived in Delaware and Chester counties, Pennsylvania, was a contractor and builder by occupation, and completed some important enterprises. He served with honor in the Civil War. He married Rachel Darlington. Among their children was a son, B. Darlington.

B. Darlington Beebe was born near Thornton, Delaware county, and was educated there in the public schools. He was still a young lad when he learned the carpenter's trade under the super- vision of his father, and he followed in his foot- steps as a contractor and builder, with which he has been successfully identified all his life. In later years he removed to West Chester, Pa., and there he continues to reside and follows the same business. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he is a devout member of the Methodist Church, while Mrs. Beebe is a Baptist. Mr. Beebe married Sallie Stelle, whose parents were Quakers. Children: Horace O., of further mention ; Laurence, of Thornton ; Adeline, married Charles Nesbit, of West Ches- ter ; Henry J., also in West Chester.

Horace O. Beebe, son of B. Darlington and Sallie Stelle (Doane) Beebe, was born in West- town township, Chester county, Aug. 25, 1884, and acquired his education in the public schools. He learned the carpenter's trade with his father, and was associated with him in business until 1905, when he removed to Allentown, Pa., and there became foreman in the construction of the Homeopathic State Hospital, at Rittersville, for his uncle, Frederick T. Beebe, and retained this position until 1912. In that year he established himself independently as a contractor and builder. In order to make the contracts he undertakes as complete and beautiful as is passible with the means placed at his disposal, Mr. Beebe has studied architecture with the International Cor- respondence School, of Scranton, and constructed a number of buildings, until in August, 1913, he accepted a position with the Trexler Lumber Company. Mr. Beebe is a member of St. John's Lutheran church, and of the Knights of the Gol- den Eagle and the Masonic Fraternity, having membership in Jordan Lodge, No. 673, F. & A. M. He married, June 18, 1907, Winifred Vic- toria Dubbs, whose family history is given below. They have one child, Ernest Dubbs, born July 4, 19II.

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

BEITELMAN FAMILY.

The Federal Census of 1790 gives name of a Didrich Beidelman and wife as residents in Alsace township, Berks Co. Presumably Jacob and Jonathan are descendants of aforesaid. Jacob Beitelman lived in Lower Macungie township, and had these children: Benjamin, Jacob, Wil- liam, Ephraim, Amelia and Caroline married Desh. Of these children Ephraim died Jan. 2, 1913. He was born at Pleasant Valley on June 12, 1845. On July 18, 1863, he en- listed as a private in Company B, Fourteenth U. S. Infantry. He served until the end of the war and then re-enlisted in the regular army and was honorably discharged at Camp Grant in 1868, with the rank of a sergeant.

He returned home to Bethlehem and resumed his duties as a carpenter and millwright. He was married to Savilla Oldt, of Schnecksville, and with his family moved later to Jacksonville, Florida. While his family resided there he worked for mining companies in Cuba and in Arizona and five years ago left the latter place to become superintendent in a large machinery manufacturing plant in Mexico City, where he was until October, 1911.

He is survived by the following children: Harry, of Allentown; Robert L., of Mexico, and Bessie, Goldie and Fritz, of Jacksonville, Fla.

Jonathan Beitelman, a brother of aforesaid Jacob, was born in Whitehall in 1800, died in 1861, aged 61 years, and is buried on the Evan- gelical Cemetery in Whitehall township. By trade he had been a tailor, conducting the same first in Whitehall, later in Lower Macungie township. Having purchased a farm of up- wards of 70 acres in Lower Macungie town- ship, he spent thereon the last year . of his life. He had been an active member of the Evangelical Church at Wescoesville. His wife, Maria (b. July 12, 1802-died April 20, 1847) was a daughter of the late Mchael Bastian. Their children were: 1, Mary, married to James Wenner ; 2, Caroline, wife of William Lobach; 3, Jonas, of Tiffin, Ohio; 4, John; 5, Elemina ; 6, Sallie, married to Daniel Hertzog; 7, Polly, wife of Wm. Keider, late of Tiffin, Ohio. Of the aforesaid, John and Sallie are the only ones living.

John Beitelman, son of Jonathan, was born March 15, 1829, and worked for his father un‘ til he was past age. In 1854, he began farm- ing in Upper Macungie township, which he pro- secuted for three years, when he began con- tracting and digging iron ore for the Thomas and Crane Iron Companies, which he continued for

twenty years. Since 1902, he resides at Breings- ville, serving as school tax collector for Upper Macungie township for four years. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. His first wife had been Beaetta, daughter of Jacob and (Oberholtzer) Schuler, whom he married in 1851. She died in 1885, aged 50 years; and left the following issue: 1, Oliver; 2, Allen; 3, Lydia, all deceased; 4, Lesher, of Coplay; 5, Amanda, wife of George Kratzer; 6, Mary, de- ceased, married to Oscar Layton; 7, Sarah, de- ceased, married to Samuel Reifinger ; 8, Clinton, deceased; 9, Irwin, and 10, Theodore. In 1887 he was married to Fianna Conrath, widow of Wm. McKnabb, of Farmington, Pa.

THEODORE R. BEITELMAN, son of John, was born in Breinigsville, Pa., July 30, 1874. He was reared upon the farm and later was con- ductor for the Allentown-Kutztown Traction Co., from 1901-03. Since Dec. 15, 1903, he is mail carrier on rural route I, from Breinigsville. He is a member of I. O. O. F. and P. O. S. of A., as well as Trexlertown Lutheran Church, which he served as deacon. He was married in 1906 to Amelia, daughter of Albert and Ellen (Guldin) Heller, the issue being: I, Evelyn; 2, Mildred, and 3, Kermit. Resides at Breinigs- ville.

DANIEL W. BENEDICT, EsQ.

Daniel W. Benedict, Justice of the Peace of Weisenberg district, and a public school teacher for thirty-four terms, was born at Allentown, May 1, 1857. His father having died, Mr. Daniel Gehringer, an enterprising farmer of Weisenberg (see sketch of John P. Gehringer), gave him a home, treated him as a child of his own family and gave him a liberal education. He was sent to the K. S. N. S., Kutztown, Pa., and thus prepared for teaching. In 1875, when eighteen years old he received a teacher's certi- ficate and since then he has taught public school continuously for thirty-five terms-32 in Weis- enberg and 3 in Lynn-excepting a period of three years when he lived in Missouri. He has served as postmaster of Seiberlingsville office since 1901 ; and he has officiated as a Justice of the Peace of the township since 1906, and as a road supervisor since 1909. In politics he is a loyal Democrat. He is also interested in farm- ing, having purchased the Brunner farm upwards of twenty years ago; and he has also acquired the Joshua Seiberling farm, which property he and the family now occupy as their residence, com- prising upwards of 50 acres of fertile land and overlooking many miles of surrounding territory.

In 1884, 'Squire Benedict was married to Ell- enora Stump, daughter of Daniel, and they have

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

two children: Sadie E. (graduated from the Keystone State Normal School in 1907, and has taught public school six terms-three in Wash- ington township, and three at Northampton) ; and Mattie B. (graduated at same time from same Normal School, and has also taught six terms, two in Lynn, and four at Allentown).

His father, William Benedict, was born in England, in 1834, and emigrated to Pennsyl- vania when a young man. He enlisted in the Civil War and while in the service contracted sickness at the Battle of Gettysburg from which he died in 1868, at Newark, N. J. He was married to Eliza Fatzinger, daughter of Daniel, and they had four children: Stuart (m. Ella Kern) ; Irene (m. Jacob Kohler) ; Daniel W .; and Ella (m. Oscar Mink).

Daniel Fatzinger was a butcher at Allentown, married to Eliza Ludwig, and they had seven children: Benjamin (m. Sarah Glick), Daniel, and Hiram (who both died single), Eli, Sevilla (m. Jacob Schnauffer), Ida (m. George Henk- els), and Eliza.

Daniel Stump, father of the 'Squire's wife, was a farmer of Greenwich township, in Berks county. He died in 1905, aged 78 years. He married Sarah Ramer, daughter of John, and they had eleven children : Wellman, William, Ellenora, Charlotte, Frederick, Aquilla, Cyrus, Louisa and Lanius died young; and Bertolec and Lizzie died in infancy. The wife died in 1903, aged 73 years. The grandfather's name was also Daniel, a farmer of Albany township. He was married to Lydia Dietrich, of Green- wich and they had seven children: Daniel, Wil- liam, Perry, Fianna, Fietta, Anna, and Kitty.

John Ramer, the grandfather of Mrs. Bene- dict, was also a farmer of Greenwich township. He was married to Hannah Heffner, daughter of Jacob, and they had nine children: Sarah, Mary, Catharine, Amelia, Anna, Jacob, William Aaron, and Willoughby.

BENFIELD FAMILY.

The family historian of the Benfields has traced the name back to the time of William the Conqueror in his conquest of England, 1066. In his army was a General John Benfield, from Normandy, who after the conquest moved his family to England and became a man of promin- ence in the circles of the Court. After his death he was buried in Westminster Abbey, where there is a tablet to his memory. The family in the course of time spread into Scotland and Ire- land, and from the Scotland family, so far as the historian is able to discover, came two bro- thers, who were Thomas and John. The former

is the head of the Benfield family of this section as well as those of the Central and Western States, and the latter is the head of the family in North and South Carolina as well as Georgia, whither he emigrated from Union township, Berks county, about 1760, with the Boone fam- ily. These brothers emigrated to America about 1712, so far as can be learned from records, and located above Pottstown, several miles, in Union township, where they owned tracts of land.

In 1728 Thomas Benfield bought a tract of land in Oley township, Berks county, and sold it to Abijah Sands in 1733, having lived there during that time. The next year he received a patent for land (100 acres) now in District township, which is owned by Israel Weller and his brother. In 1744 another patent was . granted to him for a tract of 52 acres, adjoin- ing the 100-acre tract, which became the home of the family, and there he raised a family of two sons and four daughters. This same Thomas Benfield while he lived here purchased several other tracts in Union and Amity town- ships. Two tracts were sold by him in 1762 to John Wanger, of the same township; located near Port Union and still in the Wanger family name. From the tax lists in the possession of the Berks County Historical Society we find that he paid taxes at different dates, showing that he either lived in these townships or owned property and paid tax. In 1759 he paid £8 tax in District township; and from 1761 to 1769 he paid tax in that township. There he died and his son Samuel was executor of his will and filed his statement in 1771.

Samuel was a taxable in East District (now District) township in 1790. He and his wife, Anna, lived in District till 1792, when he moved to Northampton (now Lehigh) county. In 18II he moved to Albany township, Berks county, where he died. His will was probated in 1813, John Benfield and George Greenwald, executors. In his family were two sons and five daughters, all mentioned in the will, namely : John, Catharine, Margaret, Susanna, Elizabeth, Maria and Jacob. The sons, moving to western Pennsylvania, left one grandson of this Samuel, Henry Benfield, who moved to District town- ship with a man by the name of Gluck, by whom he was employed.

John Benfield, brother of Samuel, left no issue. He also moved to Lynn township, Northamp- ton (now Lehigh) Co., Pa., but moved into West Penn, Schuylkill county, where he died. Three of the daughters (sisters of John and Samuel) were married, as follows: Catherine

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

to a Mr. Ulrich, Mary to a Mr. Harp, Eliza- beth to a Mr. Updegrove, and Susanna remained single. Of these persons very little is known.

Of Samuel's two sons, John, as before inti- mated, moved to Montour county, where his descendants now live and are prominent; Jacob moved to central Pennsylvania, where he died. He and his wife (whose maiden name was Keck) raised a family of five sons and one daughter, all but one left for the West, George locating in Illinois, Jacob and Daniel in Crawford coun- ty, Pa., John in Michigan and Maria (Mrs. Schlosser ) in Crawford county, Pa., thus leav- ing one, Henry, in Berks county.

Henry Benfield raised eight sons and one daughter, all the sons becoming prominent farm- · ers and business men. On Aug. 20, 1906, his descendants held a reunion at Huff's Church, the first gathering of this family, and six of his sons, as well as many grandchildren, were pres- ent on the occasion. He was born in Lynn township, Lehigh Co., Pa., Sept. 3, 1803, and in 1824 came to Hereford township, Berks coun- ty, where he worked one year for Mr. Gluck on the farm later owned by his son George and now the property of his grandson, Henry W. Ben- field. He then learned the blacksmith's trade from Jacob Heydt and followed that trade for several years, until he commenced farming on

his own account. The rest of his active years he spent in agricultural work, but retired many years before his death, which occurred Jan. 21, 1891, at the ripe age of 87 years, 4 months, 18 days. In his early years he was a teamster, hauling for different forges. He bought a farm of 15 acres above Bechtelsville, in Washington township, which is now the property of his grandson, William Benfield. He was a Re- formed member of the Hill Church, where he is buried. He married Sarah Becker, born July 4, 1806, died Feb. 22, 1886, aged seventy-nine years, seven months, eighteen days. Of their nine children, (1) David, born March 26, 1827, died Nov. 27, 1903; his wife, Anna Maria, born in 1830, died in 1904. He was in his younger years a teacher and later a very prosperous farm- er in Washington township, and the possessor of considerable real estate, being the owner of the home of his father, Henry Benfield. (2) Abra- ham and (3) Daniel both became farmers and contractors and lumbermen, and are the owners of oil land in Ontario, Canada, where Daniel lived many years, pumping oil from their wells. Both reside near Huff's Church, and live retired. (4) Henry was a shoemaker by trade, but started farming, and later became interested in iron ore mining, in Longswamp

township, Berks county, and neighboring locali- ties. This was his vocation for many years. Later he also became a lumberman, in which line of business he continued up to his death. (5) Jacob and (6) Aaron both worked at their trades, but later became tillers of the soil. Both are still living, Jacob in Washington township, near Bechtelsville, and Aaron near Huff's Church. (7) George B. was a farmer all his life, living near Bechtelsville. (8) Samuel, a farmer, finally drifted into the hotel business, living in Lehigh county and having hotels at Wanamakers, Kempton, and Emaus. All these brothers have been very industrious. They are men of means and stand high in social circles. Their descendants are scattered far and wide, and have engaged in various vocations, farmers, mechanics, educators, doctors, prominent busi- ness men, etc. Henry Benfield's only daughter, Elizabeth, now deceased, was the wife of Joseph Dotterer.

Most of the history given in the foregoing was contributed by Mr. Harry N. Benfield, son of Aaron Benfield, and now located at Pottstown, Pa. He is more fully mentioned later, in the paragraphs concerning his father.

Abraham Benfield, son of Henry, was born June 21, 1830. He learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed at Norristown some years. He next engaged in lime burning in Washington township, and later hauled ore. In 1869 he bought 169 acres of land in District township, upon which was an old saw and grist mill, built in 1769. He remodeled the mill and put it in operation. He owns another farm in Washington township and a small tract in Here- ford, and a limestone quarry in Upper Milford township, Lehigh county. Since 1900 he has lived retired in a tenant house on the old home farm. Though past fourscore years he is well preserved and active, still interested in all that goes on. For many years he was superintendent of the Sunday-school of the Reformed Church.

In politics he is a Democrat. He married Lu- cinda Rohrbach, daughter of Nathan Rohrbach, a farmer of District township. They had ten children: Sarah, wife of Reuben Moll, of Here- ford township; Seneca; Franklin N .; Mary Ann, deceased wife of Alfred M. Fisher ; An- dora, second wife of Alfred M. Fisher ; Aman- da, wife of John D. Reifsnyder, a teacher then residing in District township, but now in Cole- brookdale township; Ida, wife of Milton Ger- hard, who operated a creamery at Womelsdorf, but now farming his own farm in Washington township; Abraham R., in Allentown, Pa .; and James and Alfred, who both died in infancy.

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

Seneca R. Benfield was born March 30, 1860, near Bechtelsville, Pa. He was a miller and operated the Benfield mill in District township eleven years, and later he farmed in Washington and District townships eleven years. In 1901, he moved with his family to Allentown, where he labored until his death, March 28, 1908. He is buried on Greenwood cemetery. He served Huff's Church as a deacon. He was a Demo- crat and was delegate to county conventions.

On November 6, 1880, he married Ella A. DeLong, daughter of Samuel and Susanna (Romig) DeLong, of Longswamp township. They had four children: Mary A. (married Gustav Koehler ) ; Lizzie S .; Infant son; and Clayton L.

Franklin N. Benfield, justice of the peace of District township, and director of the Farm- ers National Bank at Pennsburg, is a native of Bechtelsville, born April 16, 1862. He attended the public schools of District township, a sub- scription school in Hereford township, and the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown. In 1891 he rented the Benfield grist mill in Dis- trict and carried it on for ten years. On March 8, 1901, he lost his right foot while clearing ice from the water wheel. In 1905 he purchased his father's farm and mill property, including 136 acres. He has since operated both mill and farm. He also has 28 acres of wood and pas- ture land in the same township. In partnership with his father he owns 100 acres of woodland in District township, and with Frank R. Meck a tract of 20 acres of woodland. With his uncle, Henry Benfield, he conducts a portable sawmill. In 1898 in partnership with Jonas Weiler he formed the Royal Dynamite Co., and for one year they manufactured dynamite, but since then Mr. Benfield has abandoned its manu- facture, though he continues to buy and sell it. In 1908 he rented the mil to his son Claude E., who now operates it. He is a Democrat, and in the spring of 1885 was elected justice of the peace of his township, and he has been five times re-elected. For ten years he was com- mitteeman of the township, and though he de- clined to serve longer, he was again elected. He and family are Reformed members of Huff's Church. He served four years each as deacon' elder and treasurer.

Since 1898 Mr. Benfield has been a director of the Farmers National Bank of Pennsburg, and since 1902 secretary of the board. He is a director of the Windsor Mutual Accident and Fire Insurance Co. of Berks county, and agent for many fire insurance companies.

On Nov. 17, 1883, Mr. Benfield was married

to Mary Y. Siesholtz, daughter of David and Sarah (Yeakel) Siesholtz. She died Oct. 12, 1898, aged thirty-five years, nine months, twenty- two days. They had seven children, as follows: Eliza A., an educated lady, who was organist of the church and Sunday-school, m., Jan. 20, 1909, James S. Shankweiler, who is conducting a dry goods store at Kutztown; Claude E., con- ducting a mill, m. Mary, daughter of Augustus Reinert, of Hereford township; Minnie S., m. Marvin Ledger, of Reading; and Irwin S., Mary A., Frank S., and Lillie S. On Jan. 20, 1909, Mr. Benfield m. (second) Amanda Siesholtz, sister to his first wife.

George B. Benfield, son of Henry, was born Jan. 21, 1834, in the section of Hereford town- ship now embraced in Washington township, and died on his farm at Forgedale July 19, 1898, He was a successful farmer, and owned the large place which his son Henry now owns. He was a respected man, member of the Reformed congregation of the Hill Church, of which he served as deacon and elder. He married Mary Weller, daughter of Philip and Mary ( Heydt) Weller, of District township, born May 10, 1840, died Aug. 20, 1904. Twelve children were born to this union: Ephraim died un- married ; Amanda m. Fred Weller; Rebecca m. Elijah Nester ; Adam W. and Henry W. are mentioned later ; Daniel, a resident of Hereford township; Jonathan lives in Pike township ; Elam lives in Washington township; four died in infancy.

Adam W. Benfield, son of George B., was born Dec. 27, 1868, in Washington township, Berks county, and received a good education, be- ginning in the public schools of his native town- ship, and later attending the Longswamp high school and the Keystone State Normal School. Meantime, assisting his father at home, he gained a thorough knowledge of farming, and he con- tinued to help at home until he was nineteen years old, attending school in the winter until he began to teach. He received his license in 1887, from Prof. D. S. Keck, and began teach- ing in Washington township, where he was en- gaged eight terms. After that he was in Dis- trict township for five terms before he com- menced farming, which he has followed on his own place in District township since the spring of 1909. His tract comprises 78 acres of good land.

On June 1, 1895, Mr. Benfield married Ellen R. Hoffman, daughter of Jonathan and Eliza- beth (Reitenauer) Hoffman, of Forgedale. They had four children: Elmer C., Edna M., Cora V. and Ambrose J. They are Reformed mem-

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

bers of the historic Hill Church in Pike town- ship, which he has served five years as deacon. In politics he is a Democrat. He was treasurer and trustee of Council No. 1007, Order of In- dependent Americans, at Landisville.

Henry W. Benfield was born Feb. 24, 1871, in Washington township, Berks county, on the old homestead of his father and grandfather. Most of his life has been passed in farming. He worked for his parents on the farm until twenty- one years old, after which he was engaged as a clerk in stores at Huff's Church, Bechtelsville and South Bethlehem, one year in each place. Returning home, he hired out to his father for one year, then in the spring of 1894 he com- menced to farm on his own account his father's farm at Forgedale. He was tenant for eleven years, then, in September, 1905, bought the place, which consists of 89 acres. The present barn was built in 1854 by Adam Boyer, and the house in 1881 by Mr. Benfield's father. In politics he is a Democrat, and in 1908 served as school director.

On Nov. 11, 1893, Mr. Benfield married Lillie G. Reitenauer, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Gery) Reitenauer, and they had four children, Mary A., Ida M., Eva S. and Lloyd B. He and his family are Reformed members of the Hill Church, where he has served three years as deacon.

Aaron Benfield, son of Henry, was born June 14, 1842, in Pike township. He attended the old pay school for one term, until the public school was established, after which he received the benefits of free education. When seven- teen years old he learned the blacksmith's trade and followed it eight years. In 1877 he began farming in Washington township, where he was engaged eleven years, at the end of that time removing to Hereford township, where he has since made his home. In 1894 he purchased the farm of 84 acres upon which he has since lived, the old Jacob Hoffman homestead. The present barn on the place was built in 1872. He re- tired from labor in 1907, but his son Oscar had charge of the home place since 1895. Mr. Ben- field owns another tract, of 28 acres, near Ober- holtzer's schoolhouse. Before settling at his present home he lived fifteen years at Huff's Church, cultivating a 23-acre tract. His neigh- bors elected him township treasurer. He is a Republican.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 15

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

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