History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 75

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 75

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

WILLIAM A. FOLLWEILER, of Catasauqua, is a member of the firm of Hoffman & Follweiler, and of the Catasauqua Construction Company. He was born Jan. 19, 1874, at Catawissa, Pa. He learned the cabinet making trade from W. A. Reinert, at New Tripoli, and remained in his employ about six years. In 1892 he went to Allentown and was employed by the Allentown Transit Company, remaining in that city until 1897, then came to Catasauqua where he first followed painting and later clerked in the store. Mr. Follweiler formed a partnership with Alvin J. Hoffman under the firm name of Hoffman & Follweiler, and they purchased the ice business from John Hoffman and are engaged in general hauling. In 1910 they added general construc- tion and cement work. The firm now employs from thirty to forty-five men, and uses twenty- five head of horses. The Catasauqua Construc- tion Company made the foundation for the large high school building at Catasauqua, built in 1911, and did all the cement work at this building. They also made the foundation for the silk mill in North Catasauqua. In 1893, he married Cora A. Wertman, daughter of Lewis and Matilda (Guildner ) Wertman. Mr. and Mrs. Follweil- er worship in the Reformed Church. He is a member of the K. G. E. They have these five children: Lillian May, Helen Irene, Warren C., William H. C., and Evelyn Marie.

Daniel Follweiler, the second son of the pio- neer Bernhardt, was born in Lynn township, Oct. 2, 1769, died Feb. 14, 1847. He was married to Maria Dorothea Leaser, born May 15, 1769, died May 25, 1828. She was a daughter of Fred- erick Leaser, who died in 1810. The latter hauled the Liberty Bell from Philadelphia to Allentown in 1777. Daniel Follweiler settled on the Leaser homestead, situated near Wanna- maker's, and there died and left these children:

Maria, born 1789, died July 20, 1865; married John Folk.

Magdalena, born Jan. 26, 1792; married Heinrich Lutz.

Daniel, born 1793, died Dec. 23, 1878; married Magdalena Stein.

John, born Dec. 21, 1799, died in March, 1890; married Susan Sittler.

Elizabeth, born Nov. 7, 1802, died 1887; married Henry Creitz.

David, born April 7, 1807, died Aug. 7, 1888; mar- ried Catherine Wanamaker.

Esther, born 1809, died July, 1834; married Adam Kressley.

Jesse, born 1812, died 1887; married Rebecca Wanamaker.

All of the above children died very old, except Esther, who died when she was about twenty- five years of age.

Daniel Follweiler, the oldest son of Daniel,

lived and died in Lynn. He was married to Mag- dalena Stein and their children were: Jesse, married Rebecca Simmons; Catherine, married Reuben Ross; Daniel and Harry, who died young; Rebecca; Carolina, married Edwin Os- wald; Levi S .; Charles P.

Jesse and Rebecca Follweiler have these chil- dren : Jackson, Maria, Janetta, and Harry.

Levi S. Follweiler married Rebecca Fetherolf and their children were: 1. Tillie; 2. Alexander, of Allentown; 3. Austin, married Martha Shisler, of Tamaqua, Pa .; 4. Annie; 5. Oliver, married Sarah Walters, of Tamaqua, Pa .; 6. Kate; 7. Emma, married Gordon Noble, of Philadelphia; 8. Minnie, married Cyrus Henry and they live at Birdsboro, Pa.

Charles P. Follweiler married Catherine Hein- ly. Their children follow: I. Warren J., mar- ried Susan Heinkey, of Tamaqua, Pa .; 2. Ida J., is the estimable wife of Rev. J. J. Reitz, M.D., of Walnutport, Pennsylvania; 3. Charles; 4. Mary ; 5. William. The last three are deceased.

John Follweiler, the second son of Daniel, kept a tavern, where Lloyd Kistler, now lives near Wannamaker's up to about 1830; he then tenanted the Smith farm near Lynnport until 1847, at which time he purchased the homestead of his grandfather, Bernhardt Follweiler, the pioneer, and occupied the log house of which mention has been made. He was born Dec. 21, 1799, died March, 1890, in his ninetieth year. His wife was Susan Sittler. Their children were : Charles; John S., who had part of the home- stead. Abbie was married first to Peter Fenster- macher, and second to Mr. Railton. She is eighty- seven years old ,and lives at Tamaqua, Pa. Susan married Samuel Creitz. She lives with her son, Morris Schmehl, in Weisenberg township. Wil- liam settled at McKeensburg, Pa. Samuel mar- ried Amanda Lutz and they lived in Lynn. He had red hair and a thick red beard; and Edwin, who lived in Lynn township, on part of the homestead.

David Follweiler, the third son of Daniel E., was born April 7, 1807, died Aug. 7, 1888. He was a blacksmith by trade and often told his chil- dren how their great-grandfather, Frederick Leaser, hauled the old Liberty Bell from Phila- delphia to Allentown, and that his father, Daniel Follweiler, had these facts direct from the lips of Frederick Leaser. The children of David Follweiler, among whom was Dr. David W. W., of Lynnport, rolled the wheels of the historic wagon around in the barnyard. It was then out of commission, and stored in the barn, which in 1885, was destroyed by lightning with its con- tents. These children talked among themselves

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

in their child-like way of the Liberty Bell, the Revolutionary War, and the ugly British soldiers.

David Follweiler and his wife Catherine Wan- namaker, who died in 1864, are buried at the Jacksonville church. Their children were:

Matilda, married Benjamin Glase. Edward, married Rebecca Leiby.

Mary, married Thomas Hiskey. Violetta, married Samuel Lutz. Sabilla, married C. M. Bloom. Rosetta, married Lewis Miller. Sally Ann. married Michael Waidelich.

Dr. David W. W., mentioned later. Catherine, married Waltus Bachman.

Hannah, married Frank Seifert.

Missouri. married Cyrenus Dornblaser.

Jesse Follweiler, the youngest child of Daniel, married Rebecca Wannamaker and they lived in Lynn. Their children were: I. David, married Kate Yaxtheimer; 2. George, died young; 3. George, married Louisa Zellner; 4. Allen, mar- ried Mary Brougher ; 5. Rebecca, married Aman- dus Yaxtheimer ; 6. Sarah, married Daniel Lutz; 7. Hannah, married T. Brougher.

DAVID W. W. FOLLWEILER, M.D., of Lynn- port, was born in Lynn township, Dec. 27, 1841. His early education was received in the public schools of Lehigh county, where he also taught school several terms. During the summer months he read medicine with Dr. D. D. S. Shade, of Steinsville; entering Bellevue Medical College, of New York City, in 1868, and graduating in 1870. He began practicing at Lynnport, and has continued in active practice until this time. Dr. Follweiler has kept in touch with the advances made in the profession and some years after he had completed his course, he again returned to Bellevue and specialized as a general practitioner. His name is known in nearly every household in Lynn township, also in a large area of Albany township. His classical appearance, benevolent face, and stately bearing impress themselves strongly upon the many people with whom the doctor comes in contact. Dr. Follweiler wears a long white beard which is also the color of the hair upon his head. His fresh healthy face furth- er adds to his striking personality.

He owns the David Follweiler homestead of 124 acres. The large brick residence in which the doctor resides was built by David Follweiler in 1865. The doctor has always taken an inter- est in the folklore and history of his district, and in his boyhood days with other boys of the com- munity helped to roll down hill the old wheels of the historic wagon upon which the famous Liberty Bell was hauled from Philadelphia to Allentown in 1777.

Doctor Follweiler served as a school director and is one of the members of Blue Mountain

Lodge, No. 249, I. O. O. F. In 1894 he was the high priest of the lodge, of which his father was a charter member.

He was married, Sept. 7, 1873, to Mary J., daughter of Elias Hartman. Mrs. Follweiler died Sept. 5, 1901, aged 52 years, 7 months and 8 days. They had these children: 1. Dr. Robert D. E., who died at Allentown, Jan. 26, 1913, aged 39 years, 7 months and 10 days ; his widow, Irene, nee Laubach, and a son, Alfred D., sur- vive; and (2) Clara, married to Robert Her- many. They live at Dallas, Texas, since 1906, where Mr. Hermany is the accountant for the Kansas, Missouri & Texas Railroad.

Jesse Follweiler, son of Daniel, owned sev- enty-five acres of the homestead of Frederick Leaser, his grandfather. The farm since 1880, is the property of Amandus Leiby. The barn on this farm was destroyed by lightning in 1855, and with the contents of the barn the historic wagon was burned upon which the famous Liberty Bell was hauled from Philadelphia to Allentown in 1777. Jesse Follweiler served as supervisor of Lynn township.

His wife, Rebecca Wannamaker, was a twin sister of Daniel Wannamaker, and they were the children.of Christian Wannamaker. Jesse Foll- weiler had ten children.

John S. Follweiler, son of John, was born Dec. 6, 1825. He was baptized in the same year. His sponsors were his grandparents, Daniel and Dorothea (Leaser) Follweiler. When a young man he travelled through New York, Ohio and Indiana. Upon his return to Lynn, he married Brigitta Brobst, daughter of John and Lydia (Smith) Brobst. He was a farmer and was su- pervisor of Lynn for twenty-four years. There were four John Follweilers living in the town- ship at the same time. He was known as the "Supervisor John"; another was the "Shoemaker John." At the time of his death on Dec. 7, 1901, (aged 76 years and I day), he was the last chart- er member of the I. O. O. F., of Steinsville. He was active in church matters, and served all the offices in the Reformed congregation of the Jacksonville church. His wife was born March 23, 1828, and died Oct. 23, 1902, in her 75th year. They had three children: Missouri, mar- ried (first) John Fetherolf, and (second) Charles Greenawald ; John B .; and Lewis A.

JOHN B. FOLLWEILER, of Lynn township, was born June 5, 1852. At the age of 16 years he learned the trade of a carpenter, and for forty consecutive years followed his trade in Lehigh and Schuylkill counties, except for nine months, during which time he worked in New York state. He built many of the houses in Lynn, usually employing from eight to nine men. In 1888, he

Das. L. Porote

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

built the William H. Reitz barn; in 1907, the Lewis J. Donat barn ; in 1909, the barns of Henry F. Kistler and James A. Donat ; also the Benjamin Levan and Edwin Schitz barns, besides most of the buildings in Lynn township that were erected during the last quarter of a century. His life has been an unusually busy one.

In 1886, he purchased the homestead of Bern- hardt Follweiler, the pioneer. The following year, 1887, he razed a log barn, eighty feet long, which had stood on this property for more than 125 years. It was the original barn on this prop- erty. This barn sheltered some twenty head of horses during the last quarter of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth centuries. Some of these horses were used to cultivate the soil, while others were used in hauling whisky and grain to Philadelphia. A distillery stood in the meadow below the present old house in which apple-jack and rye whiskey was burned, during the Colonial and the Revolutionary days.

John B. Follweiler and family are members of the Reformed congregation of Jacksonville church. He served it as deacon, elder, trustee and treasurer. Socially he is a member of the P. O. S. of A., at Steinsville. He served as a member of the school board for six years, and as treasurer of the township.

On Feb. 21, 1874, he married Mary J. Muth. They had seven children, namely: Annie E., married James W. Loy; Harvey, died aged 3 years and 20 days; Carrie E., married William Buck ; Milton A., married Cora Reinhart; Flor- ence L., married Harry Hermany; Clinton R., died in his third year; and Warren, married Mabel Heintzleman.

Allen W. Follweiler, son of Jesse, was born Sept. 1, 1850. He resides on a small farm near Wannamaker's, and for twenty-two years worked on the repair crew for the Berks & Lehigh Rail- road, and is still an employee of the company.

In 1870, he married Mary L., daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Winans) Braucher. They have these children: Ella V., George H., Doro- thea L., Sadie R., and Samuel A.

ALEXANDER D. FOLLWEILER.

Alexander D. Follweiler was born at Tama- qua, Schuylkill county on Oct. 8, 1864. He received his education in the common schools and at an early age was placed on a farm, where he worked until he became 15 years old . Afterward he was employed for a time in a grocery store ; then learned the trade of machinist in the shop of Carter & Allen Company, when he secured em- ployment with the Lehigh Valley R. R. Com- pany, and remained with them for upwards of twenty years at Delano, Hazelton, and Weather-

ly. In 1912 he entered shop No. 2 of the Beth- lehem Steel Company, and since then has been employed there.

Mr. Follweiler was married to Katherine Goodbellet, daughter of Simon and Susan (Betz) Goodbellet, who was born in Saxony, Germany, and emigrated to America when nine years old. They have two children: Edward Alexander and Daniel Webster. The farmer was born in 1892 and received his education at Hazleton and Waverly, graduating from the business college in 1910. He is now passenger ticket agent for the L. V. R. R. Company at the Broad Street station in Philadelphia. Mr. Follweiler was a member and deacon for eight years of the Luther- an church at Tamaqua and is now a member of St. John's Lutheran church, Allentown. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A., and Sons of Amer- ica, and is a Democrat in politics.

JAMES L. FOOTE.

James Lewis Foote, the late founder and gen- eral manager of the Slatington-Bangor Slate Syn- dicate, was a native of Salisbury, in Merrimack county, New Hampshire. He was born April 15, 1856, and educated in the local schools and Osford Academy until the age of sixteen years when he entered the law office of John M. Shirley, Esq., at Andover, a prominent lawyer, and then the state reporter of the Supreme Court, to take up the study of law, and after reading with him for a while, he finished his studies un- der Hon. E. B. S. Sanborn, at Franklin, N. H., in 1876. During this time, in 1875, he served as engrossing clerk of the State Legislature, and the same year he received the appointment of justice of the peace. In April, 1877, just after reaching his legal age, he was admitted to prac- tice before the Supreme Court of the state. He then opened an office and carried on a general practice for four years, but finding it not con- genial he went to New York City and engaged in the mercantile business for four years.

While so engaged, Mr. Foote learned of the great prospect in the promising slate regions of Pennsylvania in Lehigh county, and on March I, 1887, went to Slatington. He first entered the employ of the late Henry Kuntz, Esq., pro- prietor of the Slatington Slate Co. as a book- keeper and sales manager, and he filled this po- sition for six years when he became associated with certain enterprising citizens in the organiza- tion of the Slatington-Bangor Slate Syndicate for the manufacture of roofing slate and slate black-boards, and was selected to take the offices of treasurer and general manager which he has continued to serve in a faithful and successful manner until the present time. Their trade has,

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

in the past twenty years, been developed to extend throughout the United States and foreign coun- tries, and in securing this trade Mr. Foote came to be recognized as the best known person con- nected with the slate industry in the United States by reason of his well-conducted, persistent and judicious advertising.

Upon locating at Slatington, Mr. Foote showed an interest in its local government and various offices were tendered him which he was obliged to decline on account of his business en- gagements. However in the cause of education he accepted the office of school director and served for three years, filling the position of secretary and president. In politics he has been a staunch Republican; and in the year 1908 he was an al- ternate delegate from the Berks-Lehigh District to the Republican National Convention. In 1902 he co-operated in the organization of the Citizens' National Bank, and he had been one of its directors for many years, and is now president. He was also a director of the Blue Ridge Traction Co., which operates a street railway between Slatington and Danielsville. In 1911 he received the appointment of county prison inspector, and also in 1912, 1913 and 1914, and on each occasion the Board elected him to be president. He was chief burgess of Slatington, having been nom- inated and elected for 4 years in November, 1913. by the three political parties, polling all the votes polled, excepting 42 cast for a Socialist.

Mr. Foote affiliated with the following so- cieties : B. P. O. E., at Allenown ; and the K. G. E. and the Knights of Malta, of Slatington. In 1899 when Christ Episcopal Church was es- tablished, he was one of its organizers and had been its chief supporter, and senior warden up to the time of his death on July 23, 1914, due to apoplexy. Thus passed away one of nature's nobelman. Mr. Foote was a splendid type of man, of the highest sense of honor, of the strictest integrity. He was eminently successful in busi- ness because he laid the foundations with clean hands and with uprightness and character and integrity as the cornerstone. That his good qual- ities of manhood and citizenship were appreciated is shown by the long list of honors that came to him, mostly unsought by him, and all a magnifi- cent tribute to his managerial ability and his probity.

The funeral was held on Sunday, July 26, at 2 :30 p. m., from his beautiful home at Centre and Chestnut streets, Slatington. The services were conducted by Bishop Ethelbert Talbot, of Beth- lehem, assisted by Rev. James B. May, of Cat- asauqua. The Elks' burial service was followed at the grave in Fairview cemetery.

In 1879 Mr. Foote was married to Ara L.

Platt, a daughter of Capt. James H. and Sarah S. (Jones) Platt, of Manchester, N. H. Mrs. Foote's father was enlisted in the Civil War, and served as Captain of Co. E, in the 2nd Regt. of N. H. volunteers ; and he was killed in 1864 at the battle of Drury's Bluff, in Virginia. She died in 1907 at Slatington. In 1908 Mr. Foote married as his second wife, Emma Raleigh Blanchard, a daughter of Trask W. and Almira (Gates) Reliegh, of Boscawen, N. H., a lireal descendant of Sir Walter Raleigh, the distin- guished representative of Queen Elizabeth, of Great Britain, in the early discovery and settle- ment of Virginia, for which he was knighted.

Mr. Foote's father was Thomas Foote, a car- penter and cabinet maker, who settled at Salis- bury, N. H., in 1831, and married Lydia Tabor ; and Thomas was a son of Lewis, born in 1784, and enlisted in the English war of 1812-15, hav- ing been in service on the ship "Mars" which embarked from Portsmouth, N. H., with French "Letters of Marque and Reprisal," was captured by the English during the war, and afterward lost in a severe storm and never heard from; and Lewis was a son of Thomas who was born at Amsbury, Mass., in 1749.

FOSTER FAMILY.

Hon. Charles H. Foster was born near Shim- ersville, in Upper Milford township, Lehigh county, on January 30, 1836; educated at the Freeland Seminary, and the Franklin and Mar- shall College; and then taught public school for seven terms; after which he was engaged in farming until he enlisted in the Civil War.

On November 7, 1862, he was commissioned as Ist Lieut. of Co. K, 176th Regt. Penna. Vols., and in May, 1863, received the appointment of health officer at Beaufort, South Carolina, where he served that position until he was mustered out of service on August 18, 1863. He then located at Jacksonville and engaged in the manu- facture of woolen goods, being the proprietor of a custom mill which was operated in the town- ship.

Mr. Foster always took an active part in edu- cational matters of his locality, as well as in politics, and served as a director of the town- ship; and he was prominently identified with the Democratic party, having represented the district as a delegate before the county conven- tion. In 1878 he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives, serving the term of 1879-80 at Harrisburg. He was one of the organizers of Post 606, G. A. R., and served it for several years as adjutant and commander.

Mr. Foster died December 5, 1900. He was married February 2, 1864, to Elizabeth Buck,

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born September 13, 1839, in Albany township, Berks county, and died February 13, 1886. She was educated in the Moravian Female Semin- ary in West-Bethlehem. They had ten chil- dren : Charles E. E .; Lizzie and Agnes, twins, the former married to Jacob Long and the lat- ter to F. A. Miller; Lewis ( deceased ) ; Alla- minda (m. Frank Meyer) ; Helen (educated in the public schools and also at the Keystone State Normal School, Kutztown, after which she taught public school in Lehigh county for six- teen terms) ; Reuben (deceased) ; Molly (de- ceased) ; Jennie A. (educated in the common and select schools and graduated from the Key- stone State Normal School in 1898, and since then has taught successfully in the public schools of Lynn township) ; and Lillie (who resides at Reading).

Mrs. Foster was the daughter of Reuben Buck, son of Jacob. He was born in Hereford township, Berks county, May 31, 1813, and he married in December, 1836, Elizabeth Smith (daughter of Joshua Smith, and a sister of the Hon. Stephen Smith). Their children were: Amelia, Elizabeth, William, Lewis and Jona- than, all of whom died, excepting Elizabeth (Mrs. Foster).

CHARLES E. E. FOSTER, son of Charles H., was born September 26, 1864, at Jacksonville. He was educated in the common schools of Lynn township, and also the select schools of Steins- ville and Lynnport. Afterward he taught pub- lic school in the township for the years 1883, 1884, and 1885. In 1901 he succeeded his fa- ther in the ownership of the farm and became a successful poultry raiser, always having on hand a flock numbering from 400 to 500. He takes pride in the possession of an open-face watch which was owned and worn by his great-grand- father, Thomas Foster, who died in 1803. He and his unmarried sisters are occupying the home- stead. They are members of the Reformed con- gregation of the Jacksonwald church.

FRANKENFIELD FAMILY.

Simon and Eva Frankenfield, natives of Nas- sau, Rhine Valley, Germany, emigrated to America upon the ship Elliot, which arrived at Philadelphia, Oct. 25, 1748. Soon afterward they located in Springfield township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where they were pioneers and became original land owners. Adjoining his purchase on the north was still unsold proprie- tary land as well as in several other directions which later claimed his attention when he began to enlarge his boundaries. Their three sons, born in Germany, follow:

Philip Peter, born Nov. 18, 1735, died March

3, 1815 was married to Maafa Mill born in America, Jan. 1, 1740, died Oct. 2, 1833, in her 94th year. She was the mother of II chil- dren, 81 grandchildren, and 166 great-grand- children. They are both buried on the grave- yard at Hecktown, Northampton county, Pa.

Henry Frankenfield was morn in Germany. He settled in Nockmixon township, Bucks county, and from there had enlisted in Captain Jacob Shoop's company of malitia in the Revolutionary army. He was a Lutheran member of the Nock- amixon Church in 1761-1766.

Adam Frankenfield was born in Germany in 1746, died Feb. 15, 1832, aged 86 years. He was married, first to Catharine and they had seven children, viz: Henry, Michael, Leon- ard, Abraham, Jacob, Philip and Catharine, mar- ried to George Gruver. They were both born in Springfield township, Bucks county. Settled and died in Luzerne county, Pa. His second marriage to Elizabeth Strawsnitter resulted in the following eight children, viz: Anna Marga- ret, Samuel, Elizabeth, Eve, Isaac, Susanna, Christina, and Simon. By his third union there was no issue. Adam and his wives are buried at the Springfield church.

Adam Frankenfield succeeded his father, Simon, to the homestead which was located near the Springfield Church. He became a substan- tial and foremost citizen of his district. The original set of buildings were built by his father near an excellent spring of water. To this place they came on foot from Philadelphia, a distance of 44 miles. This was in about 1748. The place where they located was near the pres- ent Springfield Church. Tradition informs us that the pioneer carried his little son, Adam, on his back all the way. The child was then about one and one-half years old. He was reared upon the homestead which he acquired in after years, and there he reared a family of fifteen children, and died ripe in years. His descendants were:

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 75

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