History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 39

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 39

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

195

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

husband she took apartments in the Sisters' House, at Nazareth, and rested (being con- stantly waited upon by her daughter) there un- til her peaceful and blessed end, May 18, 1812.

Father Clewell's real estate, which was sold by his executors after the death of his wife amounted to 294£ 13s 9d and the personal prop- erty was upwards of 143f. The total being equal to $15,000. During his life time he had acquired about 325 acres of land, which was sold for about $50 an acre.

His Last Will and Testament, recorded at Easton, Pa., is indeed that of the Christian. It. bears date October 20, 1792. In his younger years he was steward of the Schoeneck congre- gation, and enjoyed the fullest confidence and respect of his entire community in which he lived. His married life of more than fifty-two years was full of happiness. Mingled with cares and anxieties. He possessed a vigorous con- stitution and good health until old age, but in the autumn of 1797 he began to fail visibly, being affected by dropsy. He lingered until January 24, 1798, at four P. M., when his spirit went home to dwell with God. He is buried in the Schoeneck graveyard. He was the oldest of two children of Francois and Lou- isa Frache (1695-1767) Clavell. The other son was George Craft Clavell (1726-1793) m. Anna Maria Knechle. They had twelve chil- dren.

Franz and Salome (Kuechle) Clavell had these thirteen children :

Name. Date Birth & Death. To whom married.

Maria Magdalene. 1745-1806 Single.

Elizabeth, 1746-1818 Leonard Koehler.

Catharine, 17'8-1789 John Heckedorn. John, 1750 1828 .. Anna Johanna Klein.

Anna Maria, 1752-1835 ... John Fred K. Danke.

Francis, Jr.,

1754-1818 .. Anna E. E. Weinland.

Rosina,

1757-1836. Nathaniel, 1759-1760 Single. Saloma, 1761-1816 Single.

Christina, 1762-1810 Single.

Nathaniel, 1765-1814 .A. Elizabeth Klein.

Julianna,

1768-1846

Single.

Anna Dorothea .. . 1769-1840

Conrad Dreuser.

Nathaniel Clewell was born January 25, 1765, and died July 25, 1814. He was mar- ried to Anna Elizabeth Klein. Their children were:

F. Thomas, . 1791-1866 ... m. Maria S. Stauber. Anna Elizabeth, . 1793-1879 .. .m. John Oerter. Christian, 1799-1800 .... m. Philip Fulkerson. Christiana, 1799-1800

John Gatfrey, . . . 1802-1834 . . . m. Judith Everett.

F. Thomas Clewell was born April 21, 1791, and died February 1, 1866. His wife was Maria S. Stauber. Their children were: Alex -.

ander G., Andrew F., Reuben H., Anna Eliza, Aaron N., Simon G., Robert A.

Aaron N. Clewell, was born December 22, 1828; married Sarah Y. Bachman, and they had these children: Thomas B., Eugene H., Mary M., Alice E.

THOMAS B. CLEWELL, of the firm T. B. Clewell & Son, manufacturers of the Keystone potato chips at Allentown, Pa., was born at Free- mansburg, Pa., December 6, 1856. When four- teen years old, he began clerking in the store for Chas. M. Dodson & Co., at Beaver Brook, Pa., and at the age of eighteen years he learned the butcher's trade, which he followed until 1904. He was in the employ of Arbogast and Bastian Company, Allentown, Pa., many years, hav- ing been their first slaughterer and then he con- ducted a meat market at 605 North Seventh street, for them. Later they sold that business to him and he continued operating it until 1904. Then he became a member of the Keystone Po- tato Chip Company, located at Freemansburg, Pa., which was started by John R. S. Yoder, and afterward he and his son, Aaron F., purchased Mr. Yoder's interest in the business. They con- tinued doing business under the old firm name until 1910, when they changed it to T. B. Clew- ell & Son, Manufacturers of Keystone Potato Chips. Besides consuming between 5,000 and 6,000 bushels of potatoes annually, the firm also manufacturers egg noodles extensively. Their fac- tory is located at 429-431 Green street, Allen- town, and they employ six men. Their pota- toes are all peeled by machinery.

Mr. Clewell is a self-made man, and by his success has demonstrated his ability as a business man. He is a member of Franklin Chamber, Knights of Friendship, of Allentown.

For ten years he resided at Bethlehem, Pa. There he was one of the trustees who erected the present edifice of the United Evangelical Church. Since their removal to Allentown, Pa., the family connected themselves with Bethany United Evangelical Church, which he likewise served as steward and trustee.

In 1877 he was united in wedlock with Sarah C., daughter of Rev. F. P. Lehr and Froene, nee Fecht, his wife, he having been a United Evangelical minister of note. Four children have been born to them, all of whom reside at Allentown: Aaron F., Mary (wife of John Mertz, who have a son, John), Edgar T. (a machinist in the employ of the Bethlehem Steel Company, married to Helen Morris), Ruth (who graduated from the Allentown High School in 1913.)

Aaron F. Clewell was born September 20,

196

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1879. He is a machinist by trade. In 1902 he became a member of the Keystone Potato Chip Company, which later began trading as T. B. Clewell & Son. He is a member of the Franklin Chamber, No. 9, O. K. of F. He and family are members of Bethany United Evangelical Church, and he is a teacher in the main Sunday-school. His wife is Mamie Knerr, and they have four children: Grace, Sarah, Al- bert, and Thomas.

EUGENE A. CLEWELL, contractor and builder at Allentown, was born near Bethlehem, May 10, 1869, son of Owen V. and Caroline (Zell- ner) Clewell, and grandson of Andrew Sydney and Rebecca (Michael) Clewell.

The parents of Eugene A. Clewell moved to Seneca county, Ohio, when he was a child, and there he was educated in the public schools. At the age of sixteen years his parents removed to Pennsylvania, where he was apprenticed to learn the millwright trade and to construct all kinds of farming implements and mining machinery. He pursued this trade until 1898, when he ac- cepted the position of foreman in the carpenter and millwright department of the American Steel and Iron Company, which he served until 1910, when he engaged in the building and contracting business. During the past four years he has erected twenty-two fine residences which are re- puted to be of the most substantially built houses in Allentown. He built five homes on Tilgh- man street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, and of these, No. 504, is occupied by Mr. Clewell. On North Sixth street he built numbers 604-8- 10-12, during 1913-14. These houses, like those on Tilghman street, have Mt. Airey granite fronts. Mr. Clewell also built a number of cottages and bungalows in the beautiful Wald- heim park. He employs ten and twelve mechan- ics.

Socially he is a member of Fleetwood Cas- tle, K. G. E., and the Fair Council, Junior Americans. He is an Independent voter and he and family are members of Zion's Reformed church.

On June 24, 1893, he was married to Sallie S. Haas, daughter of Joel M. and Sallie (Wentz- el) Haas, of Pricetown, Berks county. They have one daughter, Ruth D. Clewell.

PAUL J. COBAUGH.

Lewis Cobaugh, the father of Paul J., was a native of Cambria county, Pa. He was a Breth- ren in Christ (Dunkard) minister at one time, served the Berkey congregation in Somerset county, Pa. He was a prominent and success- ful business man, conducting a big tannery and a store at Johnstown, Pa., where he died in

1868, aged 37 years. His remains lie buried at Johnstown, where his wife, Susan, nee Berkey, still resides. Their children are: Peter, Sarah, Hannah, and Paul.

Paul J. Cobaugh was born at Johnstown, Jan- uary 27, 1864. He learned the trade of wire- making in his native city and continued there un- til the time of the great flood in 1899, when the establishment at which he was working was swept away. After which he came to Allentown and was employed by the Allentown Wire Mill as forcman and continued until in 1905, when he became foreman of a construction gang, for the Bethlehem Steel Works. Mr. Cobaugh is a charter member of Lodge No. 157, K. of P., of Johnstown, a member of Pride of Cambria Cas- tle, K. G. E., No. 52, of Johnstown, in which he was vice-chief at the time of the flood, a member of the Allen Lodge, No. 149, K. of M. C., and of the F. O. E.

In 1887 he was married to Sallie Romig, a daughter of Jacob and Hannah ( Miller) Rom- ig, of the Mahoning Valley. She was born at Mauch Chunk. This union is blessed with one daughter, Florence H., who was graduated with first honors from the Allentown College for Women, in 1910, and is now a student at Smith College, Northampton, Mass. Mr. Cobaugh and family are members of Dubb's Memorial Reformed congregation.

In 1906 Mr. Cobaugh engaged in the retail coal business with yards located at Fifth street and Sumner avenue, where he owns extensive grounds.

CHARLES H. COHN.

Charles H. Cohn, connected with one of the most important departments of the city service, as chief of the fire department of Allentown, made for himself a record so commendable that it caused his re-appointment to the position in which he served for the second term. He is thus recognized as a forceful factor in community interests, and while the cause of his service is an immeasurable quantity, it is nevertheless uni- formly acknowledged throughout the city and won for him the confidence, good will and regard of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Cohn was born in Jackson county, Ten- nessee, a son of Henry and Hannah (Hersh), Cohn, both of whom were natives of the State of New York. After the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south they returned with their family to Pennsylvania, remaining in Philadelphia until the war was over, when they again took up their abode in Jackson, Tenn. When four years had passed they became resi-

197

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

dents of Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1869 again located in Philadelphia.

Charles H. Cohn spent the first nine years of his life in his native state, and then resided in Philadelphia during the sojourn of his parents in that city at the time of the Civil War, going there in 1863. Again he accompanied them to Philadelphia in 1869. He had previously at- tended school there and in Jacksonville and in Brownville, Tenn., and upon his return to Phil- delphia began learning the cigar-maker's trade, which he followed there for a year. On the expiration of that period he came to Allentown, and in 1872 entered the employ of Ruhe Broth- ers, cigar manufacturers, with whom he re- mained until the time of the financial panic of 1873 forced them to cut down their number of employees, and Mr. Cohn, being among the un- married men, was discharged. He next entered the employ of A. & S. Grim, and later was with James Seip, following which he entered the em- ploy of Felton & Schuman, by whom he was appointed foreman. After acting in that capa- city for a time he went upon the road as travel- ling representative for that house, and a little later bought out his employers and began busi- ness on his own account. In this he continued successfully until he sold out in 1893 to Harry B. Schall, to enter upon active service as chief of the fire department.

Even while living in Philadelphia and learn- ing his trade, Mr. Cohn became deeply inter- ested in the system of fire protection, and since that time has been more or less active in this connection. His place of employment was on Eighth street, near Fitzwater, adjoining the headquarters of the Moyamensing Hose Com- pny. When that company was called out to a fire he would respond, although not a regular member. During his residence in Allentown he has always been deeply interested in its fire service, joining the department in 1872 as a member of Good Will company No. 3, of which he became foreman, acting in that capacity for twelve years. During that time he be- came thoroughly conversant with the service, its needs and requirements, as well as its possibili- ties, and he was thus well qualified to assume the responsible duties of chief when appointed to that position by Mayor Allison. During Mayor Lewis' first term he was succeeded by Charles D. Grim, but has been re-appointed during Mayor Lewis' second term as the chief execu- tive of the city. His efforts to promote the efficiency of the fire department have been very effective and are worthy of uniform approval. He has increased the pay part of the department about 20 per cent .; and the fire protection serv-

ice of Allentown is among the best in the state. There are two chemical and two combination engines, two trucks and seven steamers. He has been in control at a number of important fires, where, had it not been for his prompt and ef- ficient service, great damage would have been done to the property interests of Allentown. On the night of Oct. 13, 1903, when the wind was blowing a gale, at the rate of 75 miles per hour, the Breinig and Bachman building at 6 1 and Hamilton streets, caught fire. It is situ- ated at the corner of one of the principal streets, and is surrounded by hotels and all kinds of bus- iness houses. It looked for a time as though there would be a most serious conflagration, but Mr. Cohn grasped the exigencies of the situa- tion, placed his men and forces in the positions to do the most effective service, and succeeded in confining the fire to the building in which it started. A similar course was pursued by him at the Bittner-Hunsicker fire, Dec. 3, 1902. Dur- ing the last year of his first term as chief he had thirty-seven bell alarms and fifteen still alarms, and the total property loss was less than five hundred dollars, a most remarkable record, showing quick and capable service, excellent management, and cool, calm judgment.

In his political views, Mr. Cohn is a stalwart Republican, recognized as one of the strong and able workers of the party in Allentown. He is identified with several fraternal organizations, including Allen Lodge, No. 71, I. O. O. F .; Greenleaf Lodge, No. 527, K. P., of which he is a past chancellor ; Lechawonk Tribe, No. 201, I. O. R. M., and the Patriotic Order of Sons of America.

In 1893 Mr. Cohn was married to Emma Rit- ter, a daughter of Daniel and Eliza Ritter. The others of her father's family are: Martin; Charles, who married Miss Kemmerer, and has three children, Annie, Mamie and George; Lu- cinda, the wife of Cornelius Byscher, by whom she has two children, Helen and John. Sarah, who married Amandus Kemmerer, and has five children, Charles, Mamie, Sallie, Gertrude, and Edward; Alice; and Elizabeth, wife of William Marshall.

JOSIAH COLE.

Heinrich Kohl, the ancestor of Josiah Cole, who was a merchant at Slatington for seventeen years, and was interested in the manufacture of umbrella handles since 1912, was born Sept. 28, 1732, in the Palatinate Germany, and while a young man emigrated to the United States, set- tling in what is now Allen township, Northamp- ton county, Penna. He purchased a tract of 146 acres along Indian creek near the Lehigh

198

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

river about a mile northwest of Kreidersville, and engaged in farming and also the manufac- ture of gun-powder. He was married to Chris- tiana Althaus and they had eight children : Henry, Adam, Peter, John, Mary, Christiana, Susan and Catharine. They were members of the Zion's Stone Church near Kreidersville. He died March 2, 1827.

John Cole, the youngest son of Heinrich, was born in Allen township on April 12, 1790. He learned the cooper trade and after following it for a time purchased a farm of 40 acres, ad- joining his father's farm and situated partly in Allen township and partly in Lehigh township. He carried on farming there for thirteen years when he sold it and purchased the Esch home- stead to which he afterward added 14 acres of the previous farm and built thereon in 1848 a stone dwelling house for himself as his residence. In connection with farming he also made cement barrels. He died April 22 1883, at the advanced age of 93 years.

Mr. Cole was married to Barbara Houser, a daughter of Christian, and they had eight chil- dren: Eliza, Henry, Reuben, Charles, John, Peter, Matilda and Susan. They were members of the Zion's Reformed Church.

Henry Cole, eldest son of John, was born in Allen township and reared on a farm, and he followed farming all of his active life. He came to be recognized as a superior type of farmer in the Lehigh Valley and died at the advanced age of 95 years, March 13, 1912, and was buried at Zion's Stone Church.

Charles Cole, the third son of John, was born in Allen township in 1822, and reared as a farmer. He purchased in 1848 a part of the homestead, embracing 52 acres, and in 1860 he built a fine two-story brick mansion to take the place of the old home. He carried on farming there, and also the manufacture of cement bar- rels, until his death February 3, 1874. He took an active part in politics for a number of years as committeeman of his district and as a dele- gate to county conventions. He was married to Sophia Mack, and by her had eight children : Samuel, Sarah, Amanda, Marietta, Magdalena, Josiah, Ida and Frank. They were members of Zion's Reformed Church. After his death, the widow made her home with the daughter Ida (married to Stephan Lett at Allentown).

JOSIAH COLE, the second son of Charles, was born Jan. 15, 1859, near Kreidersville in North- ampton county, and received his education in the local schools while being reared on his father's farm. When seventeen years old he went to Slatington and entered the store of Williams, Brensinger & Co., as a clerk, and he was so en-

gaged until 1893, when he embarked in business for himself by associating with Walter Bachman and trading under the name of Bachman & Cole. Three years afterward, in 1896, his firm pur- chased the interest of L. B. McLees & Co., of Philadelphia, in the old Lehigh Slate Co., and, in connection with the store business carried on the manufacture of roofiing and structural slate. It was on their slate property that a serious and costly cave-in occurred on Saturday, the eleventh day of January, 1898, which shocked the com- munity.

In February, 1912, he discontinued business as a merchant and became a partner in the Crescent Manufacturing Co., at Slatington, for the manu- facture of umbrella handles of all kinds of which he is foreman in the factory.

Mr. Cole is a Democrat in politics and has fre- quently represented his district in county conven- tions. He has affiliated with a number of soci- eties : Slatington Lodge No. 624, I. O. O. F. of which he is a Past Grand and treasurer, and was a representative at State sessions for nine con- secutive years; and he is a Past-Grand Patriarch of the Slatington Encampment, No. 231. He was one of the charter members of Royal Arca- num, Council No. 2092; and he has been the Financial Secretary of the Vigilant Fire Co., No. 2 since its organization ; a member of the Board of Trade, a director of the Retail Merchants' Association, and also a director of the Slatington Rolling Mills.

On Dec. 24, 1882, Mr. Cole was married to Isabella C. Acker, daughter of Jonas and Matilda (Dornblaser) Acker of Schnecksville, and they had four children: Helen (born May 7, 1886 and died July 7, 1887) ; Charles F. (born Oct. 17, 1888, and graduated from the Slatington High School with first honors) ; Walter J. (born Jan. 1, 1891, and graduated from the Slatington High School, studied art and graduated from the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1913) ; and Ray- mond (born Feb. 28, 1895, graduated from the Slatington high school in 1912, and now taking a course in mechanical engineering at the Drexel Institute at Philadelphia). The family are mem- bers of St. John's Reformed Church, and for eight years he served as the superintendent of the Sunday school.

EDMON A. COLE.

Thomas Coles and his wife moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, settling about Nescopec, in the coal regions, when their son Amos was a young man. They worked in the coal mines; but Amos (who dropped the letter "s" and there- by changed the name to Cole) was a blacksmith and pursued the trade at the mines until in 1854

199

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

or 1855, when he went to Allentown, and he re- sided there until his death. He was blind a number of years.

His wife was Sally Ann Frederic, whose name was anglicized to Ritzy. Their children were: William, James, Joseph, Sybella, Sarah, Amos, Jr., Norman, Madison, and Theodore (who died an infant).

Joseph S. Cole, son of Amos, was born Nov. 28, 1833. He was a machinist and was fore- man of the Allentown Rolling Mill shop from 1854 or 1855 until 1892. He came to Allen- town with his father, having previously worked at Harrisburg about one year. He was married; first, to Matilda Sensenbach, daughter of Israel Sensenbach, and they had a daughter, Clara. and second, Josephine Sensenbach, a sister of his first wife, who was born February 7, 1838, and died February 10, 1881. They had five chil -. dren: Matilda Ann, Charles E., Edwin A., Fredman P., and Lucy C.

EDMON A. COLE, of Allentown, was born in' this city, December 23, 1869. In 1885, he learned the machinist trade, following it with several large corporations until he engaged in business for himself in 1898, at 167-69-71 Tur- ner street. He has a well-equipped general repair shop, and also deals in bicycles.

They attend the Evangelical Church. They were married in 1897. Mrs. Cole was Alvena Wertman, daughter of David and Flora (Mil- ler) Wertman, of Lynn township, Lehigh coun- ty. The Wertman history appears elsewhere in this volume.

EDWARD COLLINS.

Edward Collins, proprietor of the American slate works, at Slatington, was born in 1882, at London, England, near St. Paul's Cathedral, and . there received his education. He emigrated to America when he was twenty years old and lo- cated at Danielsville, in Northampton county, where he became quarry manager, and also treas- urer of the Hower slate works, owned by an English company, for which he had worked three years (1899-1902), in the London office. After serving this company for seven years he became the owner of the American slate works at Slatington, and he has since conducted the plant in a successful manner. In behalf of ex- tending his trade he crossed the Atlantic ocean eight times and visited the leading business cen- ters of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. When 18 years of age, Mr. Collins affiliated with the Court Foresters Delight, No. 3542, (an ancient order of Foresters in London), and when 21 years of age he was made a Free Mason in Slat- ington Lodge No. 440, and subsequently a mem-

ber of the R. A. Chapter at Catasauqua, Allen Commandery at Allentown, and the Shrine at Reading. In 1911 he served as W. M. of the Slatington Lodge.

On May 20, 1908, Mr. Collins was married to Anita Ava Rudolph, a daughter of J. H. Rudolph. They are members of Christ Episco- pal church, at Slatington. He is officiating as secretary of the vestry and as superintendent of the Sunday school.

REV. CHARLES J. COOPER, D.D.

William Kupper was born in the Duchy of Nassau, Aug. 24, 1722. He emigrated to Amer- ica and settled in Bucks county, Pa. The name of his wife was Gertrude, and the names of two of their children were Daniel and Catharine.

Daniel Cooper, son of William, was born in Dillenberg-Nassau, Holland, March 31, 1752, and came to America in 1775. He was a mem- ber of the fifth company, fourth battalion, of Northampton county militia, Philip Boehm lieutenant-colonel, and John Stahl, captain. In 1790, he is reported as residing in Upper Sau- con township. He married Elizabeth, a daugh- ter of John Geary, of Goshenhoppen, and died June 14, 1822. Their children were Jacob, Cath- arine, John, Peter, William, Elizabeth, Charles, and Daniel.

Jacob Cooper, son of Daniel, died on a busi- ness trip to New Orleans, and was buried at sea. He had been married to Elizabeth Fink, and had one child, Jacob.

Jacob Cooper, son of Jacob, was born in March, 1820, and died in 1899, in his seventy- ninth year. He had been a tanner by trade en- gaging later in the coal and lumber business, serving as superintendent of the Sugar Valley Co. During the latter part of his life, he con- ducted a bakery in Allentown. On May II, 1842, he married Sarah A., daughter of John and Maria Catharine (Egner) Horlacher, their chil- dren being: Emma, deceased ; Charles J .; Aman- da, married to Edwin Burkhalter, of Wellsville, Missouri; Mary, married to Harry E. Moss, of Kansas City, and Frank E., of Boston, Mass.

REV. CHARLES JACOB COOPER, D.D., son of Jacob, was born at Lanark, Upper Saucon town- ship, Lehigh county, April 1, 1847. He received his preliminary schooling in the public schools ; attended in 1858, the Allentown Academy, the Bucks County Normal and Classical Institute, 1860-1861; the Allentown Seminary, 1862-64; Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg, 1864-67, graduating therefrom, and entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary, at Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1870. From 1870 to 1896 he serv- ed as pastor of St. Peter's Lutheran church in

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 39

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