History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 40

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 40

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

South Bethlehem, Freemansburg, and Lower Saucon, resigning the latter congregation in 1881. In 1883 he was made the treasurer of Muhlen- berg College, removing to Allentown in 1886, where he devoted his time as treasurer and fi- nancial agent of Muhlenberg College up to 1905, when he was made treasurer and registrar, serving up to 1907. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Muhlenberg in 1899. On Sept. 1, 1907, he assumed the pastorate of the Friedensville parish. Besides the aforesaid service, he was trustee of Muhlenberg College, 1876-1906; secretary of the second conference, ministerium of Pennsylvania; English secretary of the Ministerium, 1884-1885, and president of the Allentown conference from 1911 to April, 1914. He also served as school director of the Second ward, Allentown, for several years, be- ing elected thereto by the Democratic party. October 4, 1870, he married Emma S., daugh- ter of George and Caroline (Jacoby) Knause. Their children are: William H., M.D., mar- ried to Harriet Bettis, of Oakmont, Pa .; Rev. Frederick E., married to Rosa M. Richards, of Milwaukee, Wis .; Charles J., deceased ; Caro- line J., married to William H. Pascoe, of Al- lentown; Emma Malinda, married to Rev. F. King Singiser, of Rangoon, Burmah; Sarah A .; Mary Catharine, deceased ; and Anna Rebecca, of Allentown. He resides at 28 South Thir- teenth street, Allentown.

CRAIG FAMILY.

The Craig family are descended from William Craig, of Stirlingshire, Scotland, who, to escape the persecution of the Presbyterians by James I, settled at Dungannon, Ireland. Four of his sons and several of his daughters emigrated to Amer- ica. The sons were Thomas, Daniel, James, and William. Sarah Craig, one of the daughters, was born in 1706 and married Richard Walker, Esq., a prominent resident of Warrington township, Bucks county. She died April 24, 1784. Mar- garet Craig, another daughter, married John Gray, of the same place. She died in 1782, leav- ing two sons, John and James, and two daughters. Jane Craig, another daughter, married Thomas Boyd, of Allen township, and had two sons, Rob- ert and Thomas.

Daniel Craig settled on a tract of 250 acres in Warrington township, Bucks county, where he died in June, 1776, having been totally blind for some years. His widow, Margaret, survived him, with eight children: Thomas; John; William; Margaret, wife of James Barclay; Sarah, wife of John Barnhill; Jane, wife of Samuel Barnhill; Mary Lewis; and Rebecca, wife of Hugh Steph- enson. His son Thomas took a prominent part

in the Revolution, was commissioned a captain, Oct. 23, 1776, and commanded a company in Col. Baxter's "Flying Camp" in the battle of Fort Washington, November, 1776. He served throughout the war and at its close was Commis- sioner of Purchases with the rank of colonel. He married Jean Jamison. Sarah Craig, who mar- ried John Barnhill, survived her husband, who at his death in 1797, was a merchant at 42 North Third street, Philadelphia. They had three chil- dren: Robert, Margaret, and Sarah.

Robert Barnhill, born in 1754, married Mar- garet Potts, daughter of John Potts, of German- town. He succeeded to his father's business and died in 1814. His daughter, Margaret, married Cornelius Van Schaich Roosevelt, grandfather of President Theodore Roosevelt.

James Craig settled in the vicinity of the Pres- byterian church at Weaversville, where he pur- chased 250 acres from William Allen on June 13, 1743, and deeded the land for the church and graveyard to the Presbyterian congregation. He lived to an advanced age and although palsied, was always carried to church on Sundays by his sons. His wife died previous to April 16, 1774. He had sons : William, Thomas, and Robert. William married Elizabeth Brown, sister of Gen. Robert Brown, and removed to Northumberland county, where he died March 19, 1810. Robert maried Esther Brown, and died March 19, 1818, leaving sons: James, Samuel, William, John, Robert, and Joseph.

Thomas Craig, Esq., the founder of the "Irish Settlement," or "Craig's Settlement," purchased 212 acres adjoining his brother Daniel's land in Bucks county, which he conveyed in 1753 to James Barclay, who had married his niece, Mar- garet Craig. In 1728 he removed to Allen town- ship, then a part of Bucks county, now North- ampton county, where he was the leading citizen for many years and one of the first justices of the peace in 1752. In 1731 his name occurs as the first elder of the Presbyterian congregation of Al- len township, in the roll of the synod at Philadel- phia. He lived on a tract of 500 acres purchased from Caspar Wistar, by deed dated March 28, 1739, and died in 1779 at an advanced age. His wife, Mary, died July 14, 1772, aged 75 years. He had sons: William and Thomas. William was the first sheriff of Northampton county in 1752, and had children : Thomas, Hugh, Charles, William, Mary, Sarah, Margaret, and Eliza- beth. Thomas married Mary Wright, and died in 1746.

General Thomas Craig, son of Thomas, was born Oct. 26, 139. He was engaged in farm- ing and at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War entered the army and rendered valuable

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service in the struggle for independence. He was commissioned, Jan. 5, 1776, captain of a com- pany in Colonel St. Clair's battalion, which saw strenuous service in the Canadian campaign. On Sept. 7, 1776, he was promoted to Lieutenant- Colonel and on Aug. 1, 1777, to Colonel of the Third Pennsylvania Regiment. He participated in the battles of Germantown, Monmouth and Brandywine, and, to use his own words, "served faithfully from the commencement of the late war to the end of it." It is said he was the first officer to protect the Continental Congress and the first to march to Canada. He retired Jan. I, 1783. In 1784 he was appointed associate judge, clerk of courts and recorder of Montgomery county, which position he filled until 1789, when he removed to Towamensing township, now Car- bon county.

In 1798 he was commissioned Major-General of the Militia of the state, which position he held until 1814. Colonel Craig was at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778, and it was through him that Mrs. Lydia Darrach, conveyed to Wash- ington the warning of Howe's expected attack at Whitemarsh, she having overheard the plans dis- cussed by the British officers at her home. During the last years of his life he resided with a daugh- ter, Mrs. Kramer, at Allentown, where he died, Jan. 13, 1832, aged 92 years, and was buried with military and Masonic honors. The procession marched to the cemetery to the funeral strains of the Bethlehem Band, the tolling of bells, and the firing of minute guns. After the ceremonies were over, and the friends retired to the Lutheran church, the Lehigh Artillerists fired four salutes over the grave and then marched to the church, where an impressive sermon was delivered by Rev. Joshua Yeager. His remians were subse- quently re-interred in Fairview cemetery.

General Craig married Dorothy Breinig, who was born in 1778 and died Sept. 1, 1846. She is buried at Lower Towamensing church. They had six children : Charles, Thomas, Eliza, Mary, Harriet, and William.

Charles Craig, son of Gen. Thomas Craig, married Salome Beisel. Benjamin Craig, son of Charles, was born in 1822 and died Jan. 10, 1861. He was a merchant in Allentown and married Matilda Brobst, daughter of Jacob and Anna Maria (Knerr) Brobst. They had two children: 1. Charles J., of Allentown, who mar- ried Ellen Butz and had six children: Ralph; Harry; Bertha; Edward, who died in 1904; Charles; and Robert; and 2. Mary Alice, who married James B. Roeder, and had two children : Frank C., who married Carolina Helwig; and Annie, who married Hector Tyndale Craig, of Lehigh Gap.

Thomas Craig, son of Thomas and Dorothy (Breinig) Craig, was born in Allentown in 1796. He attended the schools of his community, Wolfe's Academy, and a school in the Irish set- tlement for a few months. For many years he conducted a hotel at Lehigh Gap, and also con- ducted general farming and lumber business. In 1828 he became captain of what was known as a troop of horse in the Pennsylvania militia.

Mr. Craig was married the first time to Miss Kuntz, who bore him two sons, Thomas and Samuel. His second wife was Catharine Hagen- buch, daughter of John Hagenbuch, then pro- prietor of a hotel at Lehighton. They were the parents of six children; Thomas, who represent- ed his district four years in the house of rep- resentatives and three years in the senate; Eliza, wife of General Charles Heckman, an officer in the Mexican and Civil Wars; Allen, for many years judge of Carbon county; William, who moved to Nebraska, and Robert, a captain in the regular army at Washington. Mr. Craig died in 1858, and Mrs. Craig died in 1871.

Colonel John Craig, second son of Thomas and Catharine ( Hagenbuch) Craig, was born in Lehigh Gap, Carbon county, Oct. 23, 1831. After attending the common schools of his native place he attended the private school at Easton conducted by Rev. John Vandeveer. He was connected with his father in the lumber busi- ness, and after his father's death, in 1858, he continued the business for some time.

When the Civil War broke out, he was one of the first to offer his services to his country, enlisting April 22, 1861 for three months. After the expiration of this term of enlistment, he re-enlisted and was commissioned captain of Company N, Twenty-eighth regiment, Pennsyl- vania Infantry. Among the battles in which he participated were those of Antietam, Chancellors- ville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission- ary Ridge, Ringgold, Chattanooga, and a number of other engagements. Returning to his home after the war he formed a partnership with his brother in the general mercantile business under the firm name of J. & W. Craig. In 1882 his brother, William, withdrew, from the firm and he conducted the business alone, adding coal, lumber, and fertilizer to his business. In 1875 when the National Bank of Slatington was or- ganized, he became one of the directors. In 1880 he became the president of the Carbon Me- tallic Company. He served his community faithfully for a number of years as school direc. tor and postmaster. From 1884 to 1886 he rep- resented his district in the lower house of the state legislature. In the fall of 1866 Col. Craig was married to Emma Insley, daughter of Philip

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and Henrietta Insley, of near Bath. The fol- lowing children were the issue of this union: Thomas; Charles P. Insley; H. Tyndale; Hen- rietta, wife of T. Griffith; Mary; Allen D .; and John D., deceased. Mr. Craig died in 1908. During the latter part of his life he lived retired.

CHARLES CRAIG, teller, of the National Bank of Slatington, was born at Lehigh Gap April 7, 1869. He was educated in the public schools of his home, the preparatory school at Easton, and the Wyoming Seminary. He assisted his father in the mercantile business at Lehigh Gap until 1892 when he became connected with the Na- tional Bank at Slatington as bookkeeper. This position he filled until 1902, when he was pro- moted to teller in the same institution. He is a member of Slatington Lodge, No. 440, F. & A. M., and Slatington Chapter, No. 292, Royal Arch Masons. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans, of Palmerton. which was named after his father, "Col. John Craig Camp, S. of V. No. 47."

He was married in 1895, to Bertha Shirey, daughter of B. and Emma (Medlar) Shirey. They have three children: Emma, Thomas, and John.

The first of the name Craig in this country emigrated about the close of the 17th century, and located in Philadelphia. Thence in 1728 Col. Thomas Craig moved to Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and settled in what was afterwards known as Craig's or Irish settlement.

The name of Col. Thomas Craig appears upon the roll of the Synod of Philadelphia for the first time in 1731, and by it we learn that he occu- pied the office of elder. As it was in the year 1731 that the Presbyterian Church was organized in the settlement, it may therefore be supposed that he was the original elder. His son, Thomas, was but a lad when his father came to this place. During his boyhood years he assisted in clearing the land and tilling the soil, and after attaining manhood, he engaged in farming for himself.

The next in line of descent was Thomas Craig, who was born in 1740. At the breaking out of the Pennamite War, in 1771, he was made a lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Militia, and his record was that of a gallant and faithful officer. At the opening of the Revolutionary War, he was an active champion of the Colonies, and on the 5th of January, 1776, was commissioned captain, being assigned to Col. St. Clair's Pennsylvania Battalion. After several engagements in the Canadian campaign, he was promoted to the rank of major in September, 1776, and in the summer of the following year became colonel of the

Third Pennsylvania Regiment. Under command of General Washington he did good service in New Jersey, and subsequently took part in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown.

Mrs. Lydia Darrah, of Philadelphia, at whose house General Howe made his headquarters, se- cretly learning of the general's intended attack on Washington's army, then in camp at White Marsh, fourteen miles from the city, conveyed the information through Colonel Craig, so that the Colonial army was saved from a surprise and deadly attack. Colonel Craig remained with the army at Valley Forge, and from that place, April 12, 1778, addressed a letter strongly ap- pealing for clothing for the soldiers and showing their destitute condition in that respect. In the battle of Monmouth his regiment was conspic- uous for gallantry and was in the thickest of the fight.

At the close of the war Colonel Craig returned to Northampton county, of which he was ap- pointed lieutenant in July, 1783. In 1784 Mont- gomery county was formed from Philadelphia, and he was appointed associate Judge, clerk of the courts, and recorder, all of which positions he held in 1789. He then settled in the vicinity of Stemblersville, in Towamensing township, (at that time in Northampton, now in Carbon county). For several years he was major-gen- eral of the Seventh Division Pennsylvania Mili- tia. His death occurred in 1832, at the age of ninety-two years.

Thomas Craig was first married to Miss Kuntz, by whom he had one son, Thomas. His second wife was Catherine, daughter of John Hagenbach, then proprietor of a hotel at Lehighton. They became the parents of six children, to whom they gave the benefit of wise home training and good educational advantages. Thomas, now deceased, represented his district four years in the House of Representatives and three years in the Senate. Eliza is the wife of Gen. Charles Heckman, an officer in the Mexican and Civil Wars, now re- siding in Germantown, Pa. Hon. Allen Craig, for many years a leading attorney of Mauch Chunk, is now serving as district judge. Wil- liam resides in Nebraska. Robert is a graduate of West Point Military Academy, and was a captain of the regular army stationed at Wash- ington, D. C.

CREITZ OR KREITZ FAMILY.

This ancestor migrated from Nassau to Switzerland about the year 1680, and in 1735, John Adam Creitz emigrated to America with his family, settling in Allemangel, in that part now embraced in Berks county, Pennsylvania. His homestead was later owned by Jeremiah Bailey (Behly). There he died and doubtless is

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buried at the New Bethel church. On December 19, 1768, he obtained by warrant 154 acres of land, situated along the base of the Blue Moun- tain, back from Lynnport. On this tracts he lo- cated a son who bore his name. The pioneer left children of whom there were: John Adam, Jr., Christian, Samuel and Daniel.

John Adam Creitz, Jr., lived near Lynn- port, on a large tract of land. The original tract which his father gave him was 154 acres and to this he added other tracts until he had fully 300 acres. He died in 1812, and tradition states that he was buried in the old graveyard at Jacksonville. At the New Bethel church, there is a brown sandstone tombstone with the follow- ing inscription : "Anna Catharine Schmitt, born November 25, 1739." She married John Adam Kreitz; and died February 28, 1824, aged 85 years, 3 months and 6 days. She doubtless was the wife of John Adam Kreitz, Jr. Their chil- dren were: Samuel, Jonas, Henry, Isaac, Mrs. Molly Williams, Mrs. George Hartman, and Rebecca the wife of Michael Everett. She was born in 1793 and died in 1817. They lived at Lynnport. Samuel Creitz was born in 1796; and in 1829 married Judith Stein. He died January 6, 1830, exactly eight months and three days after their marriage; and two months after his death his wife gave birth to a posthumous son. Isaac Creitz was born June 13, 1807, and died July 27, 1845.

Henry Creitz, son of John Adam, Jr., was born August 21, 1801, and died September 24, 1871. He lived at Jacksonville, where he car- ried on the business of shoemaker, drover, and farmer. His wife, Elizabeth Follweiler, was a daughter of Daniel and Dorothea (Leaser) Foll- weiler. She was born November 3, 1801, and died January 15, 1888. Both are buried in the cemetery at Jacksonville. Their children were: Hon. Daniel H., William, Charles, Lewis, Al- vin F., Samuel, Henry, Leah (widow of Wil- liam Ziegler, Allentown) ; Caroline (m. James Long), Mary (m. Lewis Neiman, who resides at Chillicothe, Mo.) ; and three died small.

Hon. Daniel H. Creitz, a native of Lynn township, was born January 1, 1824, and he died October 11, 1893, in Weisenberg township, with his son-in-law, William Benner. He was a self- made man with more than an ordinary education, and came to be a leader of his section of Lehigh county, having possessed pronounced convictions and advocating earnestly and successfully what he believed was for the best interests of his com- munity. In politics he was an uncompromising Democrat, and during the Rebellion had strong friends but bitter enemies.

Mr. Creitz served in the school board many

years ; also as a member of the General Assembly for three terms, 1868, 1869, and 1870. He offi- ciated as a Justice of the Peace for twenty-five years, and as a prison warden of the county for one year. He was a blacksmith by trade at Jacksonville for thirty years; and he owned and conducted a farm in Lynn township (now the property of Victor Snyder), and there he lived from 1855 until 1893. He and his brother Alvin F., owned the farm which is now the property of James W. Smith. He was promi- nently associated with Daniel Wanamaker and George Merkel in encouraging and securing the establishment of the Berks County railroad from Reading to Slatington, (now the Schuylkill and Lehigh) and his sagacity in business matters was highly esteemed and appreciated.

'Squire Creitz was a Reformed member of the Jacksonville church, and served all its offices. His wife was Elizabeth Oswald, born February 4, 1828, died April 2, 1906, aged over 83 years ; and they had eight children: Elias O., Richard H. L., Emelina (m. William Benner now de- ceased), Rebecca (living at Seipstown), Rosalie M. (m. Alvin Snyder), and Daniel F., Francis D., and Ella, the last three having died young.

ALVIN F. CREITZ, late of Lynnport, was born at Jacksonville, January 24, 1835. He was edu- cated in the local public schools and later at- tended the New Columbia Academy in Luzerne county for the purpose of taking a special course of instruction in the English language. When eighteen years old he went by team to Burling- ton, Bradford county, Pa., where he worked for his board and additional schooling, and later he was hired by his father to work in a general store at Tamaqua for one year. In 1855 he and his brother embarked in the store business at Jack- sonville and carried it on for two years. Then, after making a trip to New Columbia, he taught public school for four terms and engaged at butchering in the summer season. About this time he bought a farm near Lynnport and this he. operated for twenty years.

In 1862 Mr. Creitz was drafted into the Pennsylvania State Militia and served for a period of six weeks, having been elected and com- missioned as captain of Company I, of the 176th Regiment. In 1868, he was elected as a justice of the peace of Lynn township and served this office continuously by re-election until 1903; then he received the appointment of notary pub- lic and he has served that office until his death. In 1870 he began to practice the surveying of land and he had been one of the best known sur- veyors in the upper section of the county. He had rendered valuable services in this business and on account of his experience and ability had

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

been called upon as an expert in the adjustment of lines in disputed cases, in which he had been successful. He had acted as an underwriter for the Berks and Lehigh Mutual Life Insurance Company since 1880.

Squire Creitz, as he was familiarly known, was married in 1860 to Caroline E. Oswald. She died June 7, 1881. He died on June 25, 1913. They had thirteen children, eleven of whom are living: Laura E., Martha A., Mollie E., Charles E. (minister of the Reformed Church and now serving the St. Paul's congregation at Reading, Pa.), William H. (architect residing at Vancouver, in British America), Albert A. (residing at Aberdeen, Washington), Ellen A. (deceased), Oliver J., Leonora C. E., a deceased infant son, Emma B., Alvin F. (residing in Ken- tucky), and Blanche M. They are members of the Reformed church at Jacksonville, which he has served as a deacon and he has officiated as secretary of the consistory for twelve years.

RICHARD H. L. CREITZ, the second son of 'Squire Creitz, a farmer in Lynn township, was born August 17, 1846. He was educated in the common schools and also attended the Key- stone State Normal School at Kutztown while being reared on the farm. In 1871, he began farming his father's homestead and also the Robert Kunkel place which his father owned, and he continued for five years, when he moved to Maxatawny township, in Berks county, and farmed there six years, after which he returned to Lynn township. Then ( 1882) he bought a farm of 98 acres which he now occupies. This was the Levi Donat homestead, who built the present house on the place in 1852.

An old log house stood first on the tract, forty feet west of the present house. It had port holes and was regarded as a relic of the earliest period of the Colonial settlements. A man named Eck- enroth was killed here by the Indians. The house was torn down in 1898.

He is a Democrat in politics, and a Re- formed member of the Jacksonville church. In 1870 he was married to Sarah Ellen Holben, daughter of David and Carolina ( Hartman) Holben, and they have six children: Elmira C. (m. Harry Shepherdson at Wind Gap), Daniel H. (carpenter at Summit Hill), David W., Alice M. (m. Phaon Kerschner at Hamburg, Pa.), John A., and George H. (at Bloomsburg, N. J.).

Adam Kreitz, a descendant of John Adam Kreitz (Creitz), was born June 14, 1815, and died August 3, 1843. He lived in Washington township where he carried on the business of shoemaker, and he was buried at Unionville. He was married August 9, 1835, to Maria Remaly,

daughter of Jacob Remaly, and they had three children: William, Henry (who was killed in a slate quarry at Slatedale where he lived, and his wife was Josephine Leibenguth by whom he had a daughter, Emma Flora), and Leah (who died unmarried ) .

Mr. Kreitz had a brother who lived at Easton, Pa., and some of his descendants are living in the vicinity of Lynnport. They spell their name beginning with the letter "C" instead of "K."

William Kreitz, son of Adam Kreitz, was born September 28, 1835, and died July 27, 1899. He lived at Slatington where he carried on shoe- making; and he owned twelve acres of land on which he also carried on farming in a limited way. He was connected with the Reformed church and served the congregation as a deacon. His wife was Dinah Kunkel, daughter of Adam Kunkel, of Carbon county, and they had a son, Francis A. She resides at Slatington in the homestead.

FRANCIS A. KREITZ, merchant, manufacturer and slate operator who resides at Allentown, was born at Slatington on March 15, 1860, and after having been educated in the public schools of that place he taught school in Washington and Heidelberg townships for three terms. In 1881 he embarked in the business of selling hats, shoes and gents furnishing goods at Slatington on Up- per Main street and he has continued in same town ever since; but in 1893 Stephen D. Behler became associated with him under the firm name of Kreitz & Behler and they have six men em- ployed. In 1894 he was one of the organizers of the Eureka Slate Co. and since than the company has carried on a large and successful business. The employees number 100 and Mr. Kreitz serves as the secretary of the company. In 1898 he became associated with Thomas Zellner and later they united with them Reuben Kunkel for the purpose of manufacturing knitted hosiery and since then they have traded successfully under the name of Slatington Knitting Co .; and some time afterward they added dye works to their enterprise. They employ together about ninety- five persons.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 40

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