History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 43

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 43

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Howard E. Daum, engaged in the slate busi- ness at Slatington and Slatedale for a number of years, was born at Ironville, Lancaster county, April 14, 1868, and attended the public schools there and at Columbia. He followed the print- ing trade for a time, but then learned telegraph- ing and filled positions with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Columbia and Wilkes- Barre, until 1889, when he became dispatcher for the P. & R. R. Co., at Slatington, and served three years. He then accepted the position of traveling salesman for the Slatington-Bangor Slate Co., in soliciting trade in the eastern sec- tion of the United States and continued with this company and others, until 1901, when he en- gaged in the business of manufacturing black- boards and structural slate, locating his factory at Slatington. His business soon developed to such proportions that he was obliged to remove his plant to Slatedale and there he conducted it in a most successful manner until he died Feb. 6, 1912. He became affiliated with the Elks, Knights of Pythias, Junior Order of U. A. M.,

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and the Royal Arcanum. He took great in- terest in local education and served several terms as a member of the Slatington school board, of- ficiating as secretary at the time of his decease.

On March 8, 1898, Mr. Daum was married to Ida Catharine Bachman, a daughter of Wal- ter Bachman, whose sketch also appears in this publication, and they had one child, a son, named Ivor Howard.

GEORGE DAVIES FAMILY.

George Davies, deceased, formerly the senior member of the well-known foundry and machine firm of Davies and Thomas, Catasauqua, Penn- sylvania, was born in the village of Merthyr- Tydvil, Glanmorganshire, Wales, April 9, 1837. The firm of Davies and Thomas was formed in 1879 and rapidly built up a very large business. In the execution of some responsible contracts they established a great reputation throughout the eastern portion of the United States.

His father, Daniel Davies, also a native of Wales, and a molder by trade, left his native land in June, 1846 accompanied by his family, and arrived in New York in July of the same year. He found employment as a foundryman in the Novelty Works, New York City, afterward being employed in Jersey City, New Jersey, and Phoenixville, Pennsylvania; later he went to Tamaqua where he entered the employ of the late Hopkin Thomas, father of the junior part- ner of Davies and Thomas. In the early part of 1849 Mr. Davies left Tamaqua and went to Weatherly, and in July of 1850, came to Cata- sauqua, entering the foundry of the Crane Iron Company, under the late David Williams, man- ufacturing castings on contract. Severing his con- nection with the Crane Iron Company in 1865, he entered into partnership with William Thomas in the foundry business, purchasing the old plan- ing mill in East Catasauqua; three months later his son, George, was admitted to partnership. After two years the firm of Davies and Thomas was dissolved, Mr. Thomas withdrawing his in- terest after which the title became Davies and Son, and the business was thus conducted until the death of Daniel Davies, in April, 1876, at sixty-three years of age.

He was a man of staunch integrity and hon- orable, upright principles, and for many years held membership in the Presbyterian church. His wife, Mary (Phillips) Davies, was born in Wales, and died there in the year 1839. Their children were: John, who died in 1862; George, mentioned hereinafter; and Mary A., who be- came the wife of James Thomas.

George Davies spent the first nine years of his life uneventfully in the land of his birth.

Coming to Catasauqua with his father in 1850 he worked at the trade of molder for two years, after which he served an apprenticeship of five years at the trade of machinist with the Crane Iron Company, under Hopkins Thomas. In 1861, in company with Thomas Jones, he en- tered Eastman's Business College at Poughkeep- sie, New York, and graduated with honors from that noted commercial school. In 1863, while at Parryville, he enlisted as first sergeant of Captain James Thomas' Company, Thirty- fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Emergency Vol- unteers, Colonel Charles Albright commanding. He marched with his company to Gettysburg, thence to Port Richmond, Philadelphia, and was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of service.

Mr. Davies, prior to the war, was employed as master mechanic in Belvidere, New Jersey, Camden and Amboy (New Jersey) shops, the Novelty Works, New York City, and at Parry- ville, Pennsylvania. After the close of hostilities he returned to the latter named place, and be- came master mechanic there for a short period of time. He then took up his residence in Cat- asauqua, and with the exception of about five years (1871 to 1876) when he had charge of the Carbon Iron Works at Parryville, he re- mained there until his death. In 1879 his brother- in-law, James Thomas, with whom he had been on terms of intimacy from childhood, purchased a one-half interest in the foundry and machine shop at Catasauqua, and this business relationship continued until the death of Mr. Davies. The two men were devoted companions, the wishes of one being law with the other. The firm man- ufactured castings for many important enter- prises, including the underground electric rail- way in Washington, D. C., the Broadway cable in New York, the East River Tunnel, the Hud- son River Tunnel and the Traction and People's cable lines in Baltimore. They also manufac- tured car castings and were the designers and original manufacturers of the Davies and Thomas engine. The works occupied at the time of Mr. Davies' death about ten acres, the foundry cov- ering one acre, and the machine-shop being one hundred and thirty-five long by fifty feet wide. There were four large boilers, two blowers op- erated by two Davies and Thomas engines of one hundred and fifteen horse-power, and fifteen cranes, two of which, made by William R. Thomas, will lift fifteen tons each. The firm was identified with the Wahnetah Silk Com- pany, of which Mr. Thomas was president and Mr. Davies a director. There was also the prin- cipal stockholders in the Electric Light and Power Company, which was established in 1890.

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Mr. Davies was also a director in the Bethlehem Electric Light and Power Company, which was established in 1882, and of which James Thomas was president. He was the owner of valuable real estate in West Bethlehem, and a stockholder in the Catasauqua National Bank.

Mr. Davies was identified with the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Porter Lodge No. 284, at Catasauqua. He was a staunch ad- herent of the principles of the Republican party, but was unwilling to allow his name to be pre- sented for official position, preferring to devote his entire time to business pursuits. As a mem- ber of the school board, upon which he was serv- ing at the time of his death, he was instrumental in promoting the grade of scholarship in the Catasauqua schools. He was. a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which body he served in the capacity of trustee, steward and class-leader. He was a member of the building committee at the time of the erection of Grace Methodist Church and parsonage, and was one of the most liberal contributors thereto.

On August 4, 1864, in Catasauqua, Pennsyl- vania, Mr. Davies was united in marriage to Mary A. Evans, who emigrated from Wales and daughter of Thomas R. Evans, who emigrated from Wales to America, settling in Catasauqua, where for many years he followed the trade of blacksmith. Mrs. Davies received an excellent education in Tremont Normal school, and was a successful teacher prior to her marriage. The following children were born to them: John M., who died in 1885; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Harry E. Graffin, of Catasauqua ; Rowland T., mentioned hereinafter; George, who was superintendent for the Westchester Lighting Company at White Plains, New York, for a couple of years ; later was connected with the Davies and Thomas Company's Works, but is now serving a responsible position in New York; James T., who is mentioned later, and two infant children who died at Parryville.

Mr. Davies passed away at his late residence, Second and Race Streets, Catasauqua, Monday evening, October 1, 1894, after an illness of two days. The funeral took place on Thursday aft- ernoon from his late residence, the Rev. C. M. Simpson, his pastor, preaching an eloquent dis- course, the Rev. Dr. Earle, of the First Pres- byterian Church, offering the prayer, and a se- lected choir rendering appropriate music. It was one of the largest and most eloquent tributes ever paid to a deceased citizen of Catasauqua. The workmen attended in a body, and number- ed about one hundred and fifty. The remains were interred in the family plot in Fairview cemetery. Mr. Davies was a most affectionate

husband, a devoted father, a loving brother, a true and excellent citizen, a consistent Christian, a considerate employer, and on all sides were spoken words of praise for the manner in which he acted the part of a true man. His like is seldom met, and his sudden death was universally regretted. At a meeting of the board of di- rectors of the Catasauqua School District, the president announced the death of their late fel- low-member, George Davies, whereupon the following was unanimously adopted :

In view of the death of our fellow school di- rector, Mr. George Davies, we, the remaining members of the Board, desire to put on record our conviction that in the death of Mr. Davies the educational interests of Catasauqua have suf- fered a heavy loss. The public schools have lost a liberal-minded and liberal-handed patron; the teachers and pupils have lost a kind and consider- ate friend, who was ever ready to promote their interests. In the School Board we have always found in him a congenial associate, a wise and prudent counsellor and an enthusiastic advocate of everything that seemed to be necessary for the improvement of our schools.

: As a mark of respect for the departed, we close the schools on the day of the burial, in order that the teachers, as well as the Board of Di- rectors, may attend the funeral in a body; and as a farther mark of respect, we agree to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Davies by the appointment of his eldest son, Rowland T. Davies, as a member of the Board until the next election.

A special meeting of the Board of Health called and convened October 3, 1894, to take action on the death of Mr. George Davies. On motion the following resolutions were adopted :

Resolved, That in the death of Mr. George Davies the Board loses an honored, esteemed and efficient member, whose wisdom and council will often be missed in our deliberations.

Resolved, That we extend to his bereaved family our heartfelt sympathy in this their hour of trial and sorrow.

Resolved, As a last tribute of respect, we at- tend his funeral on Thursday, October 4, 1894, in a body. AUSTIN A. GLICK, Secretary.

ROWLAND T. DAVIES, the second oldest son of George and Mary A. (Evans) Davies, was born March 24, 1869, at Catasauqua, Pennsyl- vania. During his boyhood days he attended the public schools from which he graduated in 1884, and later became a pupil of A. N. Ulrich, of Catasauqua, who conducted a private school for the preparation of boys for college. Subsequent-

Charge Danie

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ly he entered Lehigh University, but left this institution prior to his graduation, and at once began his business career by entering the Davies & Thomas Works. After working in the shops for two years, he entered the office of the works, and after the death of his father, October I, 1894, when the company was incorporated, he was appointed vice-president of the same, and has served that responsible position until Janu- ary, 1909. Mr. Davies is very popular among his business associates and personal friends, owing to his many excellent characteristics. He is active and prominent in Masonic circles, being Past Master of Porter Lodge, No. 284, and Past High Priest of Catasauqua Chapter, No. 278; member of Allen Commandery, No. 20, K. T. and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Reading. He is a member of the Catasauqua Club, of which he was president for two years. He is a Republican in politics, and at the death of his father he filled his unexpired term as mem- ber of the health and school boards of Catasau- qua. In May, 1911, the court of Lehigh county appointed him receiver of taxes of Catasauqua, to serve the unexpired term of David Tolan, de- ceased. Since 1907 he serves as a director of the Catasauqua National Bank; is treasurer of the Porter Club since 1912 and for some years serves Porter Lodge and Catasauqua Chapter in a simi- lar position. On June 15, 1898, he was married to Miss Mary Alice Lambert, who died July 4, 1898, three weeks after their wedding.

JAMES T. DAVIES was born November 2, 1878. He was educated in the Catasauqua high school ; the Beltz Academy, at Stamford, Connecticut; the Stiles' Preparatory Academy, at Ithaca, New York, and at the Lehigh University. He follow- ed the machinist trade with the Davies Thomas Company for three years, then was transferred into the office and became the assistant to the purchasing agent, continuing in that position un- til February, 1911. He now conducts a cigar, tobacco and confectionary business at the corner of Bridge and Front streets, in Catasauqua, where he has always lived. He is a member of Porter Lodge, No. 284, F. A. M., and of the Catasauqua Chapter, No. 278, Royal Arch Masons. He and family worship in the Metho- dist Church.

He was married in 1902 to Miss Elizabeth S. Snyder, daughter of William and Eliza (Yoder) Snyder. They have these two children: Mary E., and William S.

CLARENCE T. DAVIS.

Clarence T. Davis, the secretary and treasurer of the Rionor Silk Company, of Allentown, was born Nov. 9, 1879, son of John E. and Emma

M. (Knerr) Davis. The paternal grandfather (a native of Wales), had emigrated to the United States and settled in Lehigh county. Emma M. Knerr was a daughter of Dr. Jacob Knerr, who conducted a drug store at Front and Allen streets for many years, being succeeded by Dr. William Fegley. Dr. Knerr was married to Matilda Mertz, a daughter of Rev. David Mertz, whose history appears elsewhere in this volume.

Clarence T. Davis obtained his education in the public schools and in the Allentown Business College, attending the night sessions in the lat- ter institution. He filled various positions with the Adelaide Silk Company during an employ- ment of seven years. In 1902 he became con- nected with Rionor Silk Mills then operated by Charles A. Zinderstein. After the death of Mr. Zinderstein the Rionor Silk Co. was incorporated, Mr. Davis becoming the secretary and treasurer.

He is prominently identified with the Grace U. E. church and Sunday school having been the lay delegate of the church to the Annual Con- ference and superintendent of the Sunday school since its organization in 1906.

In 1904 he was united in marriage to Florence M. Leinberger, a daughter of Edward and Jen- nie (Erdman) Leinberger. Their children are: Dorothy E., Madeline L. and Donald E. Davis.

CASPER DEBUS.

Casper Debus, a native of Kreis Giessen, Ober Hessen, Germany, was born Nov. 21, 1883. In 1892, he emigrated, landing at New York with Philip Schneider (who in that year had paid a visit to his native country). He was in the employ of Mr. Schneider in a shoe fac- tory for eight years, from 1902 to 1910. Then he purchased and cultivated a farm of 80 acres in Bucks county, for two seasons, and in 191I he settled in Allentown.

In 1905 he married Mary, a daughter of Ad- dison Wentz, and their children are: Doro- thea E., Catharine E., and Clarence H.

DECH FAMILY.

The ancestor of the Dech family in America was John Dech, born in Germany, probably in the neighborhood of Nuremberg, in 1720, who came to Pennsylvania in 1734. A redemptioner like so many others of his time, he had to work out his passage money and later became pros- perous and lived at Sumneytown in old Bucks county. Thence he was attracted to the newly- formed county of Northampton, where he set- tled near Bethlehem, and became the father of Jacob Dech, born in 1746, died in 1833. Jacob

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Dech purchased various tracts of land in Allen township, enlisted as a soldier in the Revolu- tionary army and was married to Christina Best, daughter of Jacob Best, of Williams township, Northampton county. They had five children, viz .: John, who married Elizabeth Oberly ; An- na, married to David Kemmerer, the father of the Rev. David Kemmerer, of Worcester, O .; Jacob, who married Mary Magdalene Oberly; Elizabeth married to Christian Laubach, and Andrew (born 1793, died in 1854), who mar- ried Katharine Heller (born 1790, died 1866), a daughter of Joseph Heller, whose grandfather, Christopher Heller born near Bingen on the Rhine, in 1688 came to America, in 1738, and founded the present Hellertown.

In 1817 Andrew Dech purchased from his father, Jacob, a large farm in Allen township, near Schoenersville. He and his father were active members of Christ Church, Schoeners- ville, and in the old churchyard several genera- tions of the Dechs lie buried. His children were Edward, Solomon, John, Julia Ann, married to Conrad Seem, Sarah married to John D. Sweitz- er, Rebecca married to Simon Arndt, Jacob, who married Rebecca Wieand, and Joseph who mar- ried Elizabeth Ritter.

Solomon Dech, the son of Andrew and Kath- arine Heller Dech, was born in 1818, married in 1840 to Matilda Magdalene Dreisbach, the daughter of Jarob Dreisbach and great-grand- daughter of Simon Dreisbach noted for his dis- tinguished services in the War of the Revolu- tion, and died in Allentown, in 1876. Mr. Dech owned several farms in Northampton county, and a hotel in Catasauqua, and was a grain merchant in New York. With his family he moved to Allentown, in 1868, and he and Mrs. Dech became active workers in St. Paul's Lutheran church. Their children were: C. Wil- son Dech, of Allentown, who has two sons, Wil- liam Solomon, and Lloyd K., a grocer in Allen- town, and one daughter, Eva Edith, married to Warren Schall, of Bethlehem; Amanda C., mar- ried to the Rev. George M. Lazarus, to whom were born the following children: the Rev. Ja- cob W. Lazarus, of Vinemont, Pa .; Dr. New- ton C. Lazarus, now deceased; Dr. George F. Lazarus, of New York, and the Rev. Luther Dech Lazarus, of Bethlehem, later married to Rudolph Babp, of Nazareth; and Ella C. M. Dech, married to John Stopp, postmaster of Al- lentown, the father of the Rev. Samuel A. Bridges Stopp, of Allentown, Joseph H. Stopp, lawyer, and banker in Philadelphia, and John Franklin Stopp, of Los Angeles, Cal.

Jacob Dech was a farmer in East Allen township. He is buried at Hecktown. His

children named below are all deceased: Josiah, Reuben, Aaron, William, Joseph, Stephen, Charles, Daniel, and Mary Ann, who died in 1910, the widow of Samuel Keller.

Aaron Dech, son of Jacob, was born in East Allen Township, Northampton county, Sept. 29, 1819. He was a merchant at Farmersville for many years. The merchandise he bought in Philadelphia, to which city he hauled his pro- duce and the grain which he raised upon his large farm. He made frequent trips to Phil- adelphia with a four-horse team and he acted as the banker for the people of his community, as well as for some at Easton. He was entrusted with large sums of money and never was that confidence in him misplaced. He died Sept. 19, 1898, in his eightieth year, and is buried at Shoenersville. He was a member of the Re- formed Congregation of the church at Heck- town, and there he served as a deacon. He mar- ried Amanda Schreiber, and they had these chil- dren: Alice, died aged ten years; Jacob S .; Taylor P .; Mary ( 1857-1901) died unmarried, and Ursula.

Taylor P. Dech was born in 1846, and is one of the three owners of his father's farm in Hanover, which consists of 146 acres of level land which is in the Dech family about seventy years. He is unmarried.

Jacob S. Dech, a brother of Taylor P., was born on the family homestead in 1850. He was married to Ida, daughter of Samuel Heim. She died a number of years ago, without issue, and is buried at Allentown.

C. WILSON DECH, son of Solomon, of Allen- town, was born in East Allen township, North- ampton county, Pa., May 4, 1848. He was edu- cated in the public schools and Muhlenberg Col- lege, leaving the latter when a sophomore to read law with the Hon. J. H. Oliver, then a prominent attorney and citizen of Lehigh county, but who died after a successful canvass for the nomination of congressman, from the immediate effects of typhoid fever. The death of the pre- ceptor of Mr. Dech caused him to change his career after having read law one and one-half years. His father having also died in the mean time, leaving a large estate, Mr. Dech took hold of it as one of the administrators, operating his three large farms. One farm of one hundred acres was located in Whitehall township, Le- high county, and the other two farms were sit- uated in Northampton county.

At this time Mr. Dech was appointed assistant postmaster of Allentown under the administra- tion of President Benjamin Harrison and he served the office four years. In 1896 he became a brick manufacturer in the Twelfth Ward, un-

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der the name of Kichline Brick Co. This firm employed about 25 people, and continued in busi- ness until 1907. Since this time Mr. Dech lives retired at his residence, No. 213 Lehigh Street. He has charge of the Kichline properties, in the Twelfth Ward.

He is a Republican and has taken an active in- terest in his party since he is of age. In 1875 he represented the Third Ward in the city council; was for twelve years chairman of the second ward executive committee; and was a prominent candidate for the office of county com- missioner on three different occasions, having lacked 125 votes only at the general election in 1902. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A.

He married Anna E. Kichline in 1869. She is a daughter of the late Jacob and Eliza (Eng- leman) Kichline, late of Salisbury township. Their children are: Eva E., the wife of W. W. Scholl of West Bethlehem; Harvey K., died an accidental death, aged eight years; William S., in 1910 was a census enumerator; and is a chemist and cement tester for the firm of Hunt & Co., with offices in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco; and Lloyd K., a grocer at 544 Union Street.

Reuben Dech, son of Jacob Dech, who was reared upon the farm and educated in the com- mon schools of that day. He became a farmer and miner of iron ore, in Lower Macungie town- ship. He was a member of the Reformed Church and also served it as a deacon. Reuben Dech married Maria A. Lichtenwalner, daugh- ter of Charles Lichtenwalner. Issue: (1) Vic- tor Jacob Charles and (2) Estella (Mrs. Harry Gerhart.

Victor Jacob Charles Dech, son of Reuben and Maria (Lichtenwalner) Dech, was born Oct. II, 1874, in Lower Macungie township, Lehigh county. He acquired his education in the public schools, at Schuylkill Seminary, and Muhlenberg College and Dorney's Business College. He first became a clerk in the store of Aaron Weinberger, then engaged for himself in the wood and wil- low ware business; then entered the employ of A. J. Ziegler, and was connected with him for seventeen years. He is now a member of the firm of A. J. Ziegler & Co., and is a buyer for the company and in this capacity does considerable traveling and a member of P. O. S. of A .; the Travelers' Protective Association, and of St. John's Reformed Church. In politics, he is a Republican.

Victor Jacob Charles Dech married Oct. 10, 1896, Fannie I. Egner, daughter of Charles P. and Amanda (Fatzinger?) Egner, of Emaus, and Schnecksville. No issue.

ANDREW DEEG.

Andrew Deeg, a native of Germany, was born Nov. 23, 1856, and educated in the public schools of his country. In the year 1882 he emi- grated to the United States and for a time was located in New Jersey. In 1884 he went to New York, but shortly afterward removed to Egypt, Pa., where he worked upon a farm for a time, and later in a stone quarry. After work- ing for twelve years for the American Cement Co., in 1896 he accepted a position with the Le- high Portland Cement Co., and there he is fore- man in the quarry.

By thrift and economy Mr. Deeg acquired his own home and a number of houses at Ormrod. He married Amelia, a daughter of Carl and Maria (Frank) Kosner. They are members of the Lutheran congregation of the Egypt church, and have an adopted daughter, named Elsie J. Guldin Deeg, who is being educated in the town- ship school.

HOWARD JACOB DEESCH.

Jesse W. De Esch was a resident of Emaus. He married Anna C. Shipe, daughter of Jacob and Mary A. Shipe. Mr. De Esch died aged 56 years. He was of Moravian faith. Their children were: (1) Howard Jacob; (2) Charles, of Sumneytown; (3) George W., of Emaus; (4) Emma (Mrs. Charles Grubbs) ; Alonzo ; (5) Robert W .; and (6) Edward De Esch.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 43

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