USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II > Part 17
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Josiah and Maria German. She died Dec. II, 1912, and was buried in Fairview cemetery, with her husband. They had four children: Alice I .; Elizabeth C., who was educated in private and public schools and the high school of Allentown, was a school teacher in the city for six years, and is a member of St. John's Reformed church ; Ella M .; and Florence M., who married Harry A. Fahler and has five children: Wm. H., Mary E., Isabel E., Richard B., and Harry.
Henrietta, wife of William Snyder, of Seattle, Wash., has children : Edgar, Jefferson, and Min- nie.
Dr. Lewis C. Berkemeyer married Malinda J. Keck and had children: Francis M .; Robert K .; Charles F .; Blanche, wife of David A. Miller, proprietor of the Morning Call; Annie; Lottie; and Mary. He was born Oct. 24, 1839, and died Sept. 8, 1901.
Henry Berkemeyer, of Coopersburg, had chil- dren : Ellis, Helen and Martha. Jacob Berke- meyer, of Hazleton, married Alavesta Hausman and had children: Minnie, wife of Charles Kern ; Clara; Frank; Alfred ; and Stella. Peter, son of Augustus, lives in Belton, S. C. Samuel A., of Minneapolis, married Ida Hunt. Mary, widow of Thos. Sherer, of Minneapolis, has a son, Ralph.
FRANK H. BERNHARD.
Frank H. Bernhard, a printer of Allentown, Pa., was born in Whitpain township, Montgom- ery county, May 28, 1868, son of Harry and grandson of Anthony Bernhard.
Anthony Bernhard died in 1875, aged 71 years. He was born in Philadelphia and was married to Mary Greenawald, of Whitpain township. The Greenawald family are one of the pioneer families of Montgomery county. Anthony Bernhard owned a very large farm which has now been divided into a number of tracts. He was a member of Boehm's Reformed church and is buried in the graveyard of that old church. His children were: William; An- thony ; Harry; Sarah and Kate ( Krewson).
Anthony Bernhard had an older brother by the name of George Adam, who remained on 65 acres of the homestead and he was succeeded by his children. These brothers also had a sister who married a Reese. Tradition states that Anthony Bernhard was one of twelve children.
Harry Bernhard, son of Anthony, was born at Center Square, Montgomery county. He was a life-long farmer in Whitpain township. He was a Reformed member of the Boehm's church at Blue Bell.
He was married to Emma Wieand and re- sides at Norristown. Their children are: Mary
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
who is an invalid since 1890; Irvin E., of New Jersey; Frank H., mentioned later; Sadie (m. John Bowker), and Mary (m. Isaac Lewis).
Frank H. Bernhard was educated, in the com- mon schools and in the Norristown High School. At the age of sixteen years he learned the print- ing trade at Norristown and there he served his apprenticeship of 3 years after which he accept- ed a position on the Philadelphia Press, which he filled 4 years. He then accepted the position of foreman with the J. Elwood Lee Co., at Conshohocken and there he was employed for 14 years. In 1907 he came to Allentown and was foreman with the Searle and Dressler Co., about one year. In 1912 he became the superin- tendent of the Hacico Printing Co., and in 1913 he engaged in business for himself.
He and his family are members of Seibert U. E. church. Socially he is a member of the P. O. S. of A., of Norristown, also the P. O. S. of A. Commandery No. 6, of Allentown, and in the latter he is a Past General Commander, and the Mincekunce Tribe No. 198, I. O. R. M., of Norristown.
He was married in 1891 to Maggie Widger, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Werkheis- er) Widger, of Norristown. They have five children, two of whom are now deceased: Roy, died in February, 1910, aged 18 years; John; Harry; Horace died in infancy; and Irvin.
OSCAR F. BERNHEIM.
Oscar F. Bernheim, son of Rev. Dr. Gott- hardt D. and Elizabeth (Clayton) Bernheim, was born at Mount Pleasant, N. C., Nov. 16, 1868. His father had been a son of John H. and Lisetta (Dellman) Bernheim, and was born in Iserholm, Westphalia, Germany, Nov. 8, 1827. He had received his training in the schools of Indiana and Kittanning, Pa., 1839- 44, and Lexington, S. C., 1846-49, where he also studied theology in the Theological Sem- inary of the South Carolina Synod. He served as Lutheran pastor of various places, as a mem- ber of the Board of Trustees of Muhlenberg College, 1888-92. He was also the author of a number of books. On April 25, 1854, he mar- ried Elizabeth C. Clayton, of Charleston, S. C., the issue being two daughters and a son, Oscar, the person of this sketch, who received his train- ing in private schools at Wilmington, N. C., in North Carolina College, Mt. Pleasant, N. C., and in the Academic Department of Muhlen- berg College, graduating from the College itself in 1892. While at College he became a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and also served as editor-in-chief of the Muhlenberg from Sept., 1891, to Feb., 1892. Afterwards he
served as private secretary to the Hon. C. J. Erdman during the Fifty-Third Congress, from 1893-95. From 1895 to 1907 he engaged in various business pursuits, such as furniture, office manager of foundry and machine shop and cem- ent industries. Since 1907 he has been employed as the treasurer and registrar of Muhlenberg College. He is a member of the Lutheran church which he served as deacon for two terms. Politically he is a Democrat. May 22, 1895, he was married to Belle G. Krause, a daughter of the late B. M. and Emeline (Goun- die ) Krauss. There were born to them the following children: 1, Eleanor E; 2, Clayton K., deceased; 3, Ruth G. He resides at 420 Hamilton street, Allentown, Pa.
ALFRED FRANKLIN BERLIN.
In the year 1738 there came from the Palati- nate, in Southern Germany, on the ship "Charm- ing Nancy," Abraham Berlin, who immediately after landing went to Easton. By trade he was a blacksmith. In course of time he became one of Easton's foremost citizens, and during the war of the Revolution was elected chairman of "The Committee of Safety" for the then North- ampton county. Living carefully and frugally he acquired a competence. He married at Eas- ton, and in course of time there came to him a son, who was named Abraham. He in due time learned the avocation of his father and also be- came a noted gun-maker. The defeat of the British army is attributed to these fine guns made by him and others in the vicinity, and used in battle by the Pennsylvania German soldiers. He joined the Continental Army but with other gun-makers was ordered back home by the mili- tary authorities to make these necessary imple- ments of warfare. He married Maria Hay, an Easton lady, and to them was born on the 14th day of May, 1777, a son, who was also named Abraham. He left Easton and settled at the now village of Berlinsville, in the western part of Northampton county, where he bought a fine farm and plied his trade of blacksmith, which he learned while with his father at Easton. The village was named after him.
Here was born to him the fourth son, Daniel, who was the father of the subject of this sketch. He also learned the trade of blacksmith and moved to Cherryville, same county, where he went into the business of blacksmithing and car- riage-maker. He in time became the most prom- inent citizen in the western part of Northamp- ton county. He was for a term elected treasurer of that county. It was during his term that the jail at Easton was built. He married Catharine Kuntz, and to them came their first son, the
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
subject of this sketch. He, like many another country boy, grew up strong and healthy. At the age of four years he was sent to school a little over a mile away and there began his edu- cation. When twelve years old he moved with his uncle to Easton, where for a time he went to school, then to a business college at Pough- keepsie, N. Y., from which institution he gradu- ated and from there he came to a position in a wholesale house on Broadway, New York. Meet- ing there Mr. W. R. Lawfer, at one time one of Allentown's most successful business men, he was induced to begin with that firm, Lawfer & Steckel, which he did against the wishes of the firm he was connected with while in New York. He remained with the Allentown firm for seven years. Tired of being held up inside of a store he became a commercial traveller, to which busi- ness he has stuck ever since.
Mr. Berlin from his boyhood up was a dili- gent student, especially of the science of archa- ology. He became a dilettantte collector of American antiquities, gathering in course of time one of the finest private collections on the Atlan- tic coast. This magnificent collection is now safely housed in separate cases, as the A. F. Ber- lin Collection, in the rooms of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, at Wilkes- Barre, Penna. It is to be regretted that Lehigh county failed to become possessed of it. It is safe to say that at present his magnificent library is the finest and best for educational purposes in the city of Allentown. Not alone has he been a collector of American antiquities, but he has also written much on his favorite science. He was for a year president of the American Archæ- ological Association, for several years editor of The American Archeologist, and assistant edi- tor of The American Antiquarian. He wrote chapter three of Prehistoric Implements, a pro- duction much in demand by collectors. As the heading of chapter three of this history shows, honors have been conferred upon him by many learned societies. He has the honor of being named as one of America's eminent citizens, which can be seen in the biographical dictionary of "Who Is Who In America."
In 1908 he was elected prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas, which honor he held for a term of three years.
THE BEST PIONEERS AND SOME OF THEIR DE- SCENDANTS.
Best, or Bescht, as the name originally was in German. The first persons of that name to come to America, of whom there is any record were three brothers, Jeremiah, Nicholas, and George. These three settled in what is now Williams
township, Northampton county, Pa., in 1730. Jeremiah Best bought 213 acres of land from William Allen and received a deed Dec. 7, 1745. The other two brothers probably also purchased adjoining lands. Jeremiah had at least two sons, Jacob and John. He died at quite an old age, about 1787. Oct. 11, 1788 his farm was deed- ed to his son, Jacob, by John Best, executor of the estate.
Jacob Best was born in America in 1718 and married Catherine, nee They had two sons, John and Conrad, and two daughters, Anna, wife of Andrew Uhler; and Christina, who married Jacob Dech. Jacob Best died Mar. 9, 1789 and his tombstone is in the Hay Cem- etery, South Easton, Pa. .
Conrad Best was born Nov. 25, 1745. His wife was Hannah, daughter of Cornelius Weigant, of Easton, Pa. They were the parents of John, Jacob, Catherine, wife of Philip Hoff- man; Mary; Conrad, Jr .; Elizabeth, wife of Frederick Kreidler, George, Margaret, wife of Abram Stem; Henry and Peter.
June 20, 1770, the deed was granted to the Moravian Bishop, Nathaniel Seidel, for the Naz- areth tract of land. An agreement was made Dec. 8, 1772, between "Bischop" Seidel, Conrad Best, of Williams township, and Jacob Dech, of Forks township, for 300 acres of the Western end of this Moravian land at 55 shillings per acre in good Pennsylvania currency. The deed was executed Dec. 31, 1785. This land is about one mile east of Bath, and the farm has been in the possession of the descendants of Conrad Best and Jacob Dech ever since. The former died Sept. 25, 1826. He is buried at the Hecktown church. Jacob Dech was born 1746, died 1833. His wife was born 1751, died 1822. Both are buried in Shoenersville church-yard.
John Best was born Nov. 27, 1769. He mar- ried Catherine Fink. Their children were: John, Jr., George, Hannah, wife of Paul Miller; and Elizabeth, wife of Peter Transue. He died Nov. 7, 1839, and is buried at Bath.
George Best, born Feb. 26, 1802, married Eliz- abeth Kreidler. They had four children: Mary C., wife of Jeremiah Beck; Susanna, wife of Henry Beck; Elizabeth, wife of George H. Dech, and Reuben H. George Best departed this life Feb. 4, 1864. His grave is in Bath Cemetery. His son, Reuben H., purchased the old Best homestead. He was united in marriage with Lydia Remaly. Their children are John G., Oscar H., and Minnie E., wife of Daniel Reinert. She and her husband own and live on the Conrad Best farm. Reuben H. Best died May 31, 1903, aged 62 years.
John G. Best married Annie S. Bauer and
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
they live in Bath, Pa. They have one child, Helen, wife of Albert Leiby.
Oscar H. Best is a busy merchant in Beth- lehem, Pa. His wife was Mary E. Sloyer. They have no children.
Nicholas Best, one of the pioneers in Wil- liams township, died there Dec. 8, 1778. His wife, Elisabeth Catherine, was executrix of the estate.
Of their children the names of only two are known to the writer, Christian and Nicholas, Jr.
The aforenamed Conrad Best was well-known and prominent in Northampton county. Among the descendants of his daughter, Christina Dech, are Commodore Wilson Dech, his sister, Mrs. John Stopp, and her sons, Rev. S. A. Bridges Stopp, Allentown; Joseph H. Stopp, Esq., Phila- adelphia, and John F. Stopp, Los Angeles, Cali- fornia; Mrs. M. C. L. Kline, widow of the late Congressman Kline, and her son, Edwin Keller Kline, Esq. ; and her daughter, Miss Claude G. Schankweiler, of Allentown, Pa. Mrs. Rudolph Bapp, of Nazareth, Pa., and her son, Rev. Jacob W. Lazarus, Vinemont, Pa .; Newton C., de- ceased; George Lazarus, M.D., Brooklyn, N. Y .; and Rev. Luther D. Lazarus, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran church, West Bethlehem, are also descendants of Jacob and Christina Dech.
There are other descendants of the three Best pioneers in Lehigh and Northampton counties. The writer has given this brief sketch, so that others can more readily trace their ancestral line.
J. A. SCHEFFER.
ANCESTORS OF THE BESTS IN THE UPPER PARTS OF NORTHAMPTON AND LEHIGH COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.
Wilhelm Bescht, born in 1713 (later written William Best), landed in Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1738. He arrived with two hundred and fifty one persons, who came from the Palatinate. This is the country along the River Rhine, Germany, now given in the geography as the Rhine Prov- ince and Rheinish Bavaria. He may have been a relative of the three Best brothers, previously mentioned in this history. At any rate he went to the same section of country and some of the baptismal names of his children and later de- scendants are the same as theirs. William Best, Sr., secured fertile land along the east bank of the Lehigh river in what is now Lehigh town- ship, Northampton county, Pa., a mile below Walnutport. This was then on the border of the woodland sold by the Indians to Penn. And the country north to the Blue mountains is still known as Indian-land. Here with his family he lived on the frontier, having Indian neighbors.
The eldest son, William, was five years old
when the parents came to America. The names of their other children living in 1769 were Henry, born 1748; Barbara; Michael, and Sa- billa.
The Best family lived near the Indian trail from the North branch of the Susquehanna river to Bethlehem and Easton, Pa., the road over which Benjamin Franklin led his regiment to Weissport, opposite Lehighton, where the In- dians had massacred the Moravian settlers. Wil- liam Best, senior and junior, were soldiers in the French and Indian War.
Owing to the many hardships endured Wil- liam Best, Sr., died 1762, aged only 49 years. His grave is in St. Paul's or Indian-land church- yard, near Cherryville. He died intestate or without leaving a will and in 1769 his estate was appraised and the son, William, bought the farm. Michael and Sabilla were then less than four- teen years old or minors. (See Orphans' Court Record, Northampton Co., Book D, pp. 67 and 76.)
A son of William Best, Jr., died in 1769 and a daughter in 1773, who are buried in St. Paul's graveyard, Cherryville, Northampton county, Pa.
In 1773 or 1774 William Best, Jr., sold his property and with his family went to Westmore- land county, Pa., where he purchased 338 acres of land, now the northern part of Greensburg. Here he cleared and cultivated a large farm and prospered. He also had a mill and saw-mill on the north branch of the Sewickley. He had two sons, Henry and Nicholas, and two daugh- ters, Mrs. Christian Ruch and Mrs. John Cherry. The children by the second wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Dorn, were Wil- liam, Michael, and George, Barbara, married John Scheffer ; Susanna Jacob Hauck, and Mary Daniel Eschbach.
William Best was captain of a military com- pany to defend the frontier settlements against the raids of the British and Indians during the Revolution. He and his family were members of the First Lutheran church, Greensburg, Pa., in which he was deacon and elder. June, 1818, he sold 208 acres of his farm and with the money purchased several hundred acres for each of his children in what was then part of Venango county, but is now in the southwestern section of Clarion county, Pa. In 1821 he sold the remainder of his property in Greensburg and went to live near where all his sons and daugh- ters, except Nicholas, had their homes. The lat- ter settled in Armstrong county, near Freeport, Pa.
William Best died in 1823, aged 90 years, and was buried in the cemetery he had given to St. Paul's Lutheran congregation, known as
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
Best's church, in Beaver township, Clarion county, Pa. At the Best reunion near this church in 1901 the historian stated that at that time the descendants of William Best were over nineteen hundred. Most of those living are in Western Pennsylvania, but a considerable number are in the southern and western states. Two of his great grandchildren, namely, the wife of the late Rev. J. B. Fox, who was pastor of the Heidelberg charge from 1889 till his death, and lived at Slatington and the Rev. J. A. Scheffer of Allen- town, returned to live in Lehigh county. The Misses Estella and Alberta Fox also had their home in Slatington. Mrs. Fox was a sister of the late Rev. J. A. Kribbs, a brave officer during the Civil War, and former congressman; and Judge G. F. Kribbs, who is one of the graduates of Muhlenberg College. His sons and sons-in- in-law were industrious and well-to-do farmers and mechanics. And many of their descendants have followed similar occupations, though quite a number have been and are merchants, teach- ers, ministers, doctors, and lawyers, soldiers and officers in the army, members of the state legisla- ture, congressmen and judges.
William Best, Sr.'s son, Michael, married Eva Catherine Schaeffer. June 8, 1786 a daughter was born to them and was named Barbara. July 2, she was baptized by the Rev. Solomon Frede- rici, a well-known Lutheran pastor among those early settlers. Her sponsors were Henry Best and wife. According to the census of 1790 Michael Best and wife had three daughters, but no sons. In 1802 the family moved from Heidel- berg township, Northampton, now Lehigh county, to Murraysville, Westmoreland county, Pa. Barbara was married to Daniel Andreas (later written Andrews), in 1805. Andreas and his wife, several years afterward returned to Le- high county, and lived near Slatington, where she died in 1882, in her 96th year. Their de- scendants still live in that vicinity.
To whom William Best's, Sr.'s, daughters, Barbara and Sabilla, were married, the records of St. Paul's church near Cherryville, do not give, but only the burials. From 1756 to 1888 more than thirty persons by the name of Best were buried there. It is not indicated whether it is the family or married name of the women.
Henry Best (son of William, Sr.), born 1748, is probably the ancestor of all those of the name Best who lived and still reside in the upper part of Northampton and Lehigh counties.
Henry Best was the father of Nicholas Best, born Nov. 23, 1775 and John Best born May 22, 1778. Nicholas Best and wife, Catherine, nee Schleicher, had nine children: Daniel, born
1807; Conrad, born 1810; Christian; Elias; Jacob; Lewis; Mary, Lucy, and Caroline.
Daniel Best married Eliza, daughter of John and Susanna (Guth) Bertsch. He died in 1849 and his widow in 1902. They had the following named children: Susanna, married Amandus Anthony, Stephen, died in Minnesota; Lewis H., and Elias Best, who is a Lutheran minister, and lives in Shelby, Ohio.
Lewis H. Best, born Aug. 1, 1843, married Louisa, daughter of Christian and Mary (Esch) Bilheimer. Their sons and daughters are Syl- vester, deceased; George D., of Lincoln, Neb .; Henry O., South Whitehall township; Stephen A .; Walter J .; Franklin L .; Jane, deceased ; William H .; Lillie M., married to Richard Peters, and Carrie L., married to Oliver Haus- man, all live in Allentown. Lewis H. Best owned and cultivated a farm in North White- hall township from 1873 to 1905, when he re- moved to Allentown, where he now lives. He served as school director and deacon of the Lu- theran congregation, Unionville, where he and his family were members.
FRANKLIN L. BEST was born Dec. 22, 1871. He was educated in the public school and Kutz- town Normal School, taught two terms. In 1891 he accepted a clerkship from H. Leh & Co., and later was with Hess Brothers. In January, 1910, he went into the grocery business at the corner of Ninth and Liberty streets in which he is pros- pering. He married Nora E., a daughter of Peter J. and Amanda ( Hollenbach) Hoffman, of Ballietsville. Their children are Harold F., Grace A., Carl H., Lillian R., and Arline.
Mr. Best was elected school directcor several times in the Eighth ward and by the section board to the board of control. He is a member of several fraternal orders; and is active in church and Sunday school work.
Conrad Best, son of Nicholas, married Lydia Remely, born 1813. Their eldest son, William W., born 1834, is still living. He was the tender of the first canal lock below Walnutport, fifty- four years, and the company is now giving him pension for his long and faithful services. Of his brothers and sisters, Lewis Best married Jane Kern and lives on the Conrad Best farm near the railroad bridge below Walnutport. Christian went to Logansport, Ind .; Elias was killed in a slate quarry; Mary, married Philip Andrews, of Washington township; Lucy, married Henry Hankee, and Caroline, married Wilson Kelchner, of Walnutport, Pa.
Three of the seven children of William W. Best by his first wife are living, namely: John; Rosie, married to Josiah Gable, lives near her
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
father in Walnutport; and Jennie, to James O. Werth, Philadelphia. The second wife and two of her five children are living: Cora, married to Howard Opplinger, Berlinsville, and Josephine, married to Charles Saeger, lives in Weissport, Pa.
John Best, son of Henry, and wife, Elisabeth, nee Saeger, had these sons and daughters: Adam, born 1808; Jacob; Solomon; David; Elisabeth, married Daniel Kern; and Mary, married to Henry Peter. Adam Best lived at Berlinsville. He had two sons and a daughter: Stephen A. ; William J .; and Sarah A., married to George Eckert. The latter's sons were: Adam; James J .; and Tilghman. The daughter was married to Amandus Snyder and lives in Allen- town.
Stephen A. Best, born 1839, married Matilda, daughter of Joseph Smith. He died at the age of 52 years and his widow at the age of 67. Their graves are in Indianland church cemetery. They had three children: Lizzie, who married William H. Merkel, residing at Slatington; Jo- seph A., and Amandus. Stephen A. Best had a farm of 69 acres. He was active in political af- fairs and served as constable of Lehigh town- ship 18 years. He was interested in the welfare of the Lutheran Church, of which he was a mem- ber.
JOSEPH A. BEST, born July 9, 1869, attended school in Berlinsville and Cherryville and later the American Commercial School in Allentown. He learned the stove and tinware business at Slatington, where he was employed for nine years. Mr. Best and William Neff, in 1893, formed a partnership and opened a stove store on North Tenth street, Allentown, and later re- moved to 34 North Seventh street. January, 1901, they dissolved partnership. The following April he and Lewis A. Acker formed the Joseph A. Best & Company stove and tinware firm, lo- cating at 440 North Tenth street. The firm em- ploys a considerable number of men and is do- ing a large, paying business.
Joseph A. Best married Annie Gruver. Mrs. Best died in 1900. They had a son, named Russel H. Mr. Best's second wife is Gertrude S., daughter of William Graul. They have these children: Clarence Stephen, Helen Eliza- beth, and Willard Joseph. He and family are members of the Lutheran Church. They re- side in a fine home at 921 Gordon street, Allen- town. Joseph A. Best was elected and re-elected to the select council from the Eighth ward and he is its Democratic county executive committee representative. He is active in the Pioneer Fire Company. He is identified with a number of beneficial and social organizations.
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