History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 87

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 87

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Edward George, the eldest son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Beidler) George was born, June 26, 1822, in South Whitehall township. He follow- ed the trade of capenter all of his active life. Among the buildings he constructed was the Knappenberger school house in South Whitehall township, about the year 1862.

He was an active member of the Evangelical Church, being an exhorter for 30 years. He was a very pious man and lived a consistent life. He was employed at Catasauqua for some years and on Wednesday evenings walked to Cetronia, where he lived, and lead the weekly prayer meeting. In politics he was a Whig, then a Re- publican. He died on Oct. 2, 1906. Mrs. George died Dec. 5, 1906.

Edward George married Elizabeth Glick, born Dec. 18, 1821, daughter of John and Catharine (Schwander) Glick (1783-1850). Issue: Mil- ton, died Jan. 21, 1911, aged 67 years; Clara, married Frank Krause; Amelia, married Ed- mund Guth; Elizabeth and Edward D (twins) ; Eliza, married Milton A. Flexer ; and Tilghman, died New Year's eve, 1863, aged five years.

Edward D. George, son of Edward and Eliza- beth (Glick) George, was born March 4, 1853, at Cetronia, Pa. He was educated in the public schools: the Allentown Academy; and with the Allentown Collegiate Cadets, located where stands the old Muhlenberg College. In 1901 he removed to Allentown and became a member of the firm of George & Flexer, coal merchants. In politics he is a Republican and for some years was a member of the town council at Coopersburg. He and family are members of the United Evangelical Church. He is a mem- ber of Grace U. E. church choir.

Edward George married Mary J. Gilbert, daughter of Augustus Gilbert. Issue: Clara, died young, and H. Gilbert died aged 6 years.

Jacob George, was born in Lowhill township. For almost 70 years he was owner and proprietor of the Leather Corner Past Hotel, an old land- mark of that part of the state. He married Lydia Woodring. Issue: Reuben; Eli; Jonas; Elmina, (Mrs. Reuben Deihl) ; Elizabeth, (Mrs. Augur) ; Jemima, (Mrs. Menno Klutz) ; Lydia, (Mrs. Fenstermacher) ; Daniel, and George George.

Jonas George, son of Jacob and Lydia (Wood- ring) George, was born in Lowhill township.

He assisted upon the farm and in the hotel. When not needed on the farm he attended the public school until 18 years of age. He then re- moved to Allentown, and engaged in the tailor- ing business, then opened a restaurant on Hamil- ton St., continuing until 1898, when his son Al- fred, succeeded to the business. He married Caroline Newhard. Issue: Alfred George.

Daniel George, son of Jacob George, was born March 6, 1832. After reaching manhood he con- ducted the following hotels in the order named : Siegersville, Wescoesville, Snydersville, (Hill- side ), Seiberlingsville and Seipstown. From 1892 to 1900 he followed farming, near East Texas and also near Fogelsville. He and family were Reformed members of Morganland church.

Daniel George married (first) Sarah A. Stett- ler. Issue: Richard T .; Joseph; Daniel M .; Myron E. and William who died in childhood.

Daniel George married (second) Alice Merk- el, daughter of Jacob Merkel. Issue: Katie ; Milton ; John B .; Harvey C .; and Clarence J. George.

MYRON E. GEORGE, son of Daniel and Sarah A. (Stettler) George, was born June 10, 1865, near Ballietsville, in North Whitehall township. He was reared upon the farm, meanwhile acquir- ing his education in the public schools. At the age of 17 years he began to learn the tanning and currying trade, at Ballietsville. He followed this vocation for ten years. Subsequently he be- came a railroad brakeman and then a worker in the cement mill at Northampton. From 1902 to 1904 he was a tenant on a farm in North White- hall township. In 1904 he settled upon the 48 acre farm where he now lives. This property he improved making it an up-to-date place. He and family are members of the Unionville Re- formed Church, which he served as a deacon.

Myron E. George, married Aug. 15, 1887, Annie M. Kern, daughter of Nathan and Caro- lina (Scheirer) Kern. Issue: William D., mar- ried Hattie A. Nagle; Edwin J., married Stella Bloch; Albert R., married Annie Wotring; Kate S. A .; Nathan F .; Sadie C .; Helen A .; Lillie M., who died in infancy.

JOHN B. GEORGE, son of Daniel and Sarah Ann (Stettler) George, was born Sept. 16, 1880. He was reared upon the farm, and was educated in the public schools. He became a motorman for the Allentown and Reading Traction Co., con- tinuing for 21/2 years. He then became a bar clerk at the "Catasauqua House," at Catasauqua, Pa., of which he became proprietor in 1904. In 1907 he became proprietor of the present hotel at Breiningsville, continuing for three years. He then lived retired, at Allentown until April 1, 1912, when he became owner of the Golden Eagle

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Hotel, to which he made many improvements. This hotel was built in 1800, by Mr. Breinig, and it is a land mark of the township.

He holds membership in the following named orders: I. O. O. F .; B. P. O. E. Moose; and F. O. E. of Allentown. He married in Oct. 1903, Edna L. Scharadin, daughter of Henry A. and Louisa (Gernerd) Scharadin, of Allentown. Issue : Wesley S. George.

Peter George was also a farmer on the home- stead, and here carried on a distillery. He served as one of the building committee in erecting the third Lowhill Church in 1858. He was married to Rosina Werley (who died in 1857, aged 63 years). They had ten children, four sons, Peter, John, Jonas and Phaon, and six daughters.

Peter George, son of Peter, was born on the homestead of 100 acres in 1826, and besides farming the plantation he carried on the distill- ing here (as the successor of his father) for twenty years, from 1865 to 1885. He lived in retirement on the place for a number of years until his decease June 3, 1913, at the advanced age of 87 years. He was prominently identified with the Lowhill church which he served as dea- con, elder and trustee. He married Julia Greena- wald, daughter of Daniel of Weissenberg town- ship, and they had five children: Sarah (m. Wilson Peter), Alice (m. E. A. Wilt) ), Frank, Menno (m. Sarah A. Millhouse), and Moses (m. Agnes Peter). His wife died in 1900, aged 64 years. Frank P. George, farmer of Lowhill, was born on the homestead in the township near Bittner Corner, June 17, 1860, where he was reared and educated until he became eighteen years old. Then he learned milling under E. A. Wilt at Cedarville near Dorney's Park and con- tinued there three years. He was afterward en- gaged in baking and milling for several years when he formed a partnership with his brother, Menno, and carried on the distilling business on the homestead as successors of their father until 1900 when the enterprise (which had been op- erated there for many years) was discontinued. In 1885 he purchased the property of 50 acres where he now resides, a short distance south of Bittner's Corner, and he has been engaged in farming until now, having given his at- tention from 1885 to 1900 to the distillery. He has served a school director of the township, and is now filling the position of road-master in the upper district. He also serv- ed as a deacon and trustee of Lowhill church, and is now acting as an elder. In politics he is a Republican and as such frequently represents the district as a delegate to a county convention.

In 1878 Mr. George was married to Elvena Everett, of Lynn township, and they have four

children : Birdie (m. Albert Rauch), Mamie (m. Granville Bachman), Florence (m. Solon New- moyer), and Arthur (who is at home with his parents).

William George was a farmer of Lowhill township located near what is now known as Bittner's Corner. He was married Dec. 8, 1795, to Catharine Shoemaker (daughter of Paul, and grand-daughter of Jacob, who emigrated from Germany in 1745) ; and they had seven children : Peter (m. Rosina Werley) ; John (who is next described in this sketch), Catharine (m. John Shoemaker) ; Mollie (m. Nicholas Houseman) ; Elizabeth (m. Joseph Bachman) ; Lydia (m. Jonathan Zimmerman). Catherine was born October 6, 1777, and died Dec. 3, 1871. The record of William's decease could not be ascertained. It is probable that he was a grand- son of Heinrich George and a son of John George who were identified with the organization of Weissenberg church in 1747, and afterward with that of Lowhill church in 1769.

John George, second son of William, was born Jan. 26, 1804, in Lowhill on the homestead and was brought up there on the farm. He moved to Weissenberg and came to possess two farms, one of 102 acres, which he sold in 1870 to his son-in-law, Franklin Clauss (now the property of Oliver P. Fisher), and the other of 173 which he sold in 1877 to his son, John. He died July, 4, 1886, and was buried at Lowhill church. He was married to Maria (Polly) Werley, daughter of Andreas (see Werley Family). She was born Jan. 8, 1809, died July 7, 1878, and was also buried at Lowhill Church. They had eight children: William (m. Ist Lydia Werley, 2nd Mary Ann Kern), John, Caroline (m. Frank Clauss), Fianna (m. Jeremiah Klotz), Penrose (m. Anna Seibert), Benneville (m. Helena Sei- bert), Amanda (m. Seir Smith), and Aaron (m. Maggie - -).

John George, Jr., second son of John and Maria George, was born in Weissenberg, Dec. 9, 1829, and carried on his farm of 173 acres from 1862 until his decease April 24, 1907, when it descended to his two sons. In 1861 he was married to Sallie Klotz, daughter of Joel, farmer of Lowhill, and they had two sons, James F. and Oliver J. Since his decease the widow has continued her residence in the old home, with the elder son, James.

James F. George, farmer of Weissenberg, was born Jan. 18, 1862 on the place where he now resides, and where he was brought up and edu- cated in the township school. He assisted his father in carrying on the plantation until 1907, when, by the decease of his father, he and his brother became the joint owners, and since then

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

they together have successfully conducted the farming operations. In 1900 he filled the position of enumerator of the township in supplying the particulars for the U. S. census.

He was married to Sarah Frey, daughter of Peter, of Lowhill.

Oliver J. George, farmer of Weissenberg, was born Dec. 12, 1869, also on the place and there brought up and educated in the township school, and like his brother James assisted his father until 1907 when he became a joint owner of the prem- ises by the decease of his father, and since then he and his brother have cultivated the farm suc- cessfully, excepting three years when he carried on the farm of his father-in-law, Jonas Rex. He married Ellenora Rex, daughter of Jonas, and brother of Thaddeus Rex (whose sketch and ancestry appear under separate head). They have five children: Romas S. (graduated from township school in 1909, and given school as teacher in South Whitehall for 1913-14), Helen M. J., Ralph, Paul J., and Robert J.

JOSEPH H. GERSBACH.

Joseph H. Gersbach, proprietor of the 9th Ward hotel, Allentown, was born in the same city February 22, 1870. His grandfather, Ja- cob Gersbach, was a native of Canton Argau, Switzerland, where he was born July 10, 1801. He came to America in 1852 and located at Naz- areth. Later he moved to Bethlehem where he lived some years after which he made his home with his son, John, in Allentown where he died July 6, 1880. His wife was Maria Haller who came from the same place in Switzerland. She was born December 17, 1803, died April 14, 1864. They had four children: Ida, Julia, John and Josephine.

John Gersbach, the father of Joseph H. Gers- bach, was born in Canton Argau, Switzerland, February 23, 1843. He died in Allentown Au- gust 26, 1900. He came to America with his parents in 1852. He was a locomotive engineer for the North Penn Railroad Co., later for the Allentown Iron Works and still later he was the engineer for the Allentown rolling mills. In politics he was a Democrat and for 12 years he represented the Sixth Ward in the School Board. He resided at 438 Ridge Avenue since 1867 where his widow and several children still reside. His wife was Martha Quast a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth ( Utsch) Quast. Peter Quast was born in 1827 in Herodorf, Prussia. He came to America in 1850 and settled in Allentown where he became very active in political matters having been a member of the City Council for many years. He was an active and prominent member of the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart of

Jesus. His children were Martha, wife of John Gersbach and Peter who died just before he was ordained to the priesthood. To John Gersbach and wife the following children were born, Ed- ward, Joseph H., John, Mary, Peter, Frank, Elizabeth, Emma, Robert and three children who died in infancy.

Joseph H. Gersbach was educated in the pa- rochial schools of Allentown. He learned the trade of furniture finishing and was foreman for R. Croll & Co. In April, 1896, he engaged in the saloon business at the corner of Front and Tilghman Streets where he continued for four years. In April, 1900, he became the proprietor of the 9th Ward hotel, No. 430 and 432 Gor- don Street. Mr. Gersbach adheres to the princi- ples of the Democratic party. In 1898 and 1899 he represented the Sixth Ward in Common Council. After he moved to the 9th ward, he was elected in 1901 to represent this ward and has been honored by being re-elected six times. He was chairman of Common Council for eight successive years. He was chairman of the High- way Department for ten years. In 1890 he was married to Mary Ebertz, a daughter of Nicholas and Gertrude Ebertz. This union was blessed with five children: Charles; Gertrude, deceased; Albert, Francis, deceased; and Fred- erick.

GEORGE T. GILBERT.

George Theodore Gilbert, chief engineer of the Merchants Ice Company, at Allentown, was born in Lehigh county, Sept. 27, 1863, and edu- cated in the public school there. He was put to work at the iron ore mines when ten years old and he worked at different occupations until 1891. During that time he learned to run a stationary engine and he filled positions in this employment at various mines until 1899. Then he moved to Allentown and was engineer at B. F. Kriebel's, Lieberman's Brewery, Frederick's Brick Yard, and the Palace Silk Mill. With this experience he secured the position of chief engineer and assistant manager at the plant of the Merchants Ice Company, with fourteen men under his charge.

In 1881, Mr. Gilbert was married to Mary Boyer, daughter of Levi and Hettie (Werley) Boyer, of Longswamp township, in Berks county, and they had eight children: Levi F. (carpen- ter, married to Ella Eisenhart) ; Bella M .; How- ard E. (head bookkeeper at the Neuweiler Brew- ery) ; Lulu M. (who died in infancy) ; Charles Alfred ; Katie M .; E. Helen M .; and Raymond E. They are members of the Zion's Lehigh church. In politics he is a Democrat.

His father, Mathias Gilbert, was born in

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

North Whitehall township, where he attended the public school and learned the trade of car- penter. He followed it in the township for a number of years; then moved to Allentown and carried it on until he died at the age of 73 years. He was married to Mary Rink, daughter of Andreas Rink. She died at the age of 84 years. They were members of the Lutheran congregation at Zion's Lehigh church. They had ten children: Benjamin F .; Emma R., m. B. F. Kriebel; Francis; Sarah E., m. C. A. Miller; Oscar, (died in infancy) ; Louisa, m. Erastus Miller; George T .; Agnes, who died when thirteen years of age) ; Howard, and Cora, (who died in infancy).

GILDNER FAMILY.

The first American settler of this branch of the Gildner family was John Francis Gildner or Frantz Gildner, who emigrated from Roterdam some time in 1738 on the ship Glasgow and land- ed in Philadelphia on September 9th, 1738. We know nothing of his ancestors or at what age he emigrated. The Pennsylvania Archives how- ever show that at the age of 22 years one Frans Giltner took his oath of allegiance.

According to tradition John Francis Giltner married Catharine, or Kate Weber and that they resided in the township of Heidelberg, North- ampton county, now Lehigh county. This is substantiated by 2 land warrants to Francis Gild- ner, the one under date of November 28, 1743, for 97 acres and a second warrant on November 21, 1766, for 109 acres. We have no record or evidence to show us when John Francis Gildner or his wife Catharine died.

There was born to John Francis Gildner or Giltner and Catharine or Kate his wife ten chil- dren, as the fruit of their marriage, namely : Ber- nard, Jacob, Tobias, Andrew, Francis, John George, or John Christian, Catharine, Magda- lena, Margaret and another daughter who died in youth.

Andrew Gildner or Giltner, one of the sons of John Francis, also lived in Heidelberg township, on the farm owned at this writing by Charles Miller. He died some time between 1840 to 1850 and is buried in the old Heidelberg Church cemetery. He was a Lutheran in his religious faith, and a farmer by trade. With his wife, Christiana, nee Dengler, he had the following children, namely: 5 daughters, Sarah, inter- married to John Haring and after his death to John Ebert; Leah, married to one Xander ; Polly, married to Jesse Schuck; Dianah, married to one Hilbert; Catharine, 'married to Daniel Wert, and three sons, Andrew, Jr., Peter and Stephen.

Peter Gildner the second son of Andrew, Sr., was born on Feb. 21, 1803, and died on May 25, 1856. He lived and died in Lynn township, Lehigh county, and is buried in the old New Tripoli cemetery. In his early manhood he was a shoemaker by trade but later in life a weaver of woolen and flaxen goods. He owned a small tract of land in Lynn township. In religion he was a Lutheran. He was married twice. The first time to Katie Werley on Oct. 25, 1820. With this union there were five daughters, name- ly: Brigitta intermarried with John A. Reitz, Catharine intermarried with Samuel Loch, Polly intermarried with Manasses Stoudt, Rebecca in- termarried with Henry Allspach and Lydia inter- married with Jacob Stengley. Polly and Rebecca were twin sisters. There were also born to the first marriage four sons, namely, Jonas, John, Elias and Gideon.

On August 27, 1843, Peter Gildner married Katie Straub his second wife. This marriage resulted in the following issue, namely: Fianna, Mary married to Daniel D. Wertman, Matilda married to Lewis F. Wertman, Madina married to James Billig, Owen, David and Nathan both of whom died at the age of 6 months.

Jonas Gildner, first son of Peter Gildner was born Sept. 2, 1828, in Lynn township, 3 miles southwest of New Tripoli, on the farm now owned by Amandus Weaver. At the age of 16 Jonas learned the shoemaker's trade which trade he followed until 1872. In his time he made many new shoes and boots and taught many in the trade. He at the same time conducted his farm and huckstered to the towns of Tamaqua and Summit Hill for 20 years. In 1896 Jonas moved to New Tripoli where he now resides and is still following his boyhood trade as a cobbler at the age of 84 years. He has been a member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church of New Tripoli since confirmation and served as a member of the church council for 4 years. In politics he has been a Republican since the organization of the party and always took an active interest in poli- tics. In 1860 when Lincoln was elected presi- dent he served as one of the election officers. The ballots were printed in German.

He was married in 1849 to Mary Ann Krass- ley, daughter of Peter Krassley. His wife died in September, 1895. The issue of their marriage are the following: Jonas, Elias K., James, Sarah A., Emma, Rosa and Mary A.

ELIAS K. GILDNER, a son of Jonas Gildner, was born Oct. 31, 1851, in Lynn township, Le- high county, three miles southwest of New Tripoli. He was educated in the public school of Lynn township and during his boy- hood days worked at the trade of shoemaking be-

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

fore and after school. This trade he followed as a livelihood from the time he left his home, at the age of twenty one years, until 1890. As a shoemaker he established himself in the village of New Tripoli with a few dollars in cash and one half side of sole leather. This trade afforded him a little more than a living and by saving was able to purchase a lot in the village in 1873 on which he erected a work shop. The following year he built the house which forms the main portion of the property he presently occupies as a home, a shoe store, a job printery and a barber shop.

In March, 1874, he was married to Mary Louisa, nee Snyder, a daughter of Jonas F. and Maria Snyder of near the village of New Tripoli. Five children were born to them, namely, two sons, Francis J. and Charles H., and three daughters, Ella J., wife of Clinton E. Leiby; Laura A., wife of Fred S. Sittler and Edna M., all of whom are living.

On January 25, 1882, Elias K. Gildner re- ceived the appointment as postmaster of New Tripoli and served in that office until October 30, 1885. This appointment came to him in recognition of his interest in Republican poli- tics.

He has always been musically inclined, and in July, 1872, became a member of the Lynnville Brass Band which in its day was considered a good band, and remained a member thereof until 1879 when the organization disbanded. In 1880 he assisted in the organization of the New Tripoli Cornet Band and was its conductor for fifteen years. He was thus an active band man for 32 years.

In May, 1878, Mr. Gildner started his career as a shoe merchant with a stock of $300. This stock has since been increased to such an extent that to-day he has a stock such as one seldom sees in a country village of the size of New Tripoli. In 1898 he took up job printing with Hon. James A. Miller and in 1908 purchased from Mr. Miller the printing outfit and is now, with the assistance of his son, Charles H., conducting in addition to his shoe store the job printing busi- ness, as well as a barber shop which is managed and operated by his son, Charles, in the enlarged quarters on the premises where in 1873 he started as a cobbler.

In fraternal organizations Mr. Gildner has taken an active part. He is a charter member of New Tripoli Grand Council No. 204 Jr. O. U. A. M., of New Tripoli, Pa., a member of Blue Mountain Lodge No. 249 I. O. O. F., of Steinsville, Pa., and a member of Jackson Castle No. 343 K. of G. E., of Jacksonville, Pa.

In his church Mr. Gildner has always taken

an active interest. He has been a member of the church choir for many years and is presently a member of the board of trustees of Ebenezer Lutheran congregation in his home town of New Tripoli.

FRANCIS J. GILDNER, a son of Elias K. Gild- ner, was born in the village of New Tripoli, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, on October 21, 1875. He received his boyhood education in the public schools of New Tripoli. In 1895 he started to prepare for college by receiving instruction from private teachers at his home. In the spring of 1896 he enter- ed the Ursinus Academy at Collegeville, Penna., where he completed his preparation. In the fall of 1896 he entered the Freshman class at Ursinus College and graduated from the same institution in 1900. While at college Mr. Gildner took an active interest in all college activities and in its societies. He was a member of the Zwinglian Literary Society, the College Glee Club, the Col- lege Quartette and the College Orchestra.

After his graduation from Ursinus College he registered as a law student with the Hon. Marcus C. L. Kline and Hon. Arthur G. Dewalt. In the fall of 1900 he entered the law offices of Kline and Dewalt and continued the reading of law under Mr. Kline after the dissolution of the firm of Kline & Dewalt. In July, 1904, he passed the examination of the State Board of Law Ex- aminers for admission to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. On September 21, 1904, he was admitted to the bar of Lehigh county and opened his law office in the city of Allentown. On De- cember 5, 1910, he was admitted to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, and on October 7, 1912, to the bar of Northampton county.

During the years 1906, 1907 and 1908 he served as deputy prothonotary, of Lehigh county under George G. Blumer, prothonotary. Since January 1, 1909, he has given his entire time to the practice of the law in the city of Allentown. He was one of the organizers of the Penn Coun- ties Trust Company, of Allentown and is a di- rector of the same institution. In politics he is a Republican and in religious faith a Lutheran.

On June 5, 1905, Mr. Gildner was married to Ida Minerva Smith, daughter of Theodore S. and Ruth A. J. Smith, of his native village, New Tripoli. Mrs. Gildner was an accomplish- ed musician, holding a diploma from the New England Conservatory of Music, at Boston, Mass., as a violin soloist, and teacher in piano, theory of music and harmony. She was blessed with the rare gift of absolute pitch. Her musi- cal ear was so true that she was able to name as many as twelve to fifteen keys struck on a piano at the same moment. She was able to play from

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 87

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