USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II > Part 91
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SAMUEL S. GRAFFIN, postmaster of Catasau- qua, was born in that borough, Sept. 29, 1876. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, graduating from the Catasauqua high school in 1894. He became bookkeeper for his brother, George W., at Allentown, for whom he worked three years. He was in the employ- ment of the American Cement Company until 1900, when he was appointed assistant postmast- er by his father and served that office eight years.
In March, 1908, he was appointed postmaster by President Roosevelt, and was re-appointed Jan. 11, 1912, by President Taft.
The postoffice force of Catasauqua, besides the postmaster, consists of the following: the assist- ant postmaster, three clerks and four carriers. During his administration the free delivery and the Postal Savings Bank was established.
Mr. Graffin is interested in the Catasauqua Charity Society. Socially he is a member of Porter Lodge, No. 284, F. & A. M .; Catasauqua Chapter, No. 278; Allen Commandery, No. 20; Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Reading; the B. P. O. E., No. 130, and the F. O. E.
He was married in 1911, to Miss Anna B. Egge, a daughter of the Rev. Charles and Julia Egge, of the United Evangelical church.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
WALTER E. GRAFFIN is the eighth son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Graffin, who were amongst the earliest settlers of Catasauqua, Pa. He was born at Catasauqua on Nov. 29, 1874, in the home now occupied by his parents on Second street. He attended the public schools of Cata- sauqua, and graduated from the high school in the class of 1892. He was an athlete, having held the high score record in a number of events, and was the pitcher of the high school base ball team. After leaving school he became connected with his brother George in the machinery and supply business at Allentown, where he remained until 1893, having accepted a position with the L. V. R. R. Company at South Bethlehem ; when these offices were removed to Philadelphia in 1898 he moved with them.
In the spring of 1900, he married Maude I., the oldest daughter of Cyrus Kuntz, the proprie- tor and publisher of the Daily City Item, of Al- lentown. He remained with the L. V. R. R. Company at Philadelphia until July of that year, when he accepted a position on the staff of the Item, and moved with his wife to Allentown.
At the death of his father-in-law, Cyrus Kuntz, in 1893, he was appointed business manager of the Item, and had full charge of the business of the paper until Jan. 1, 1912, when the paper changed hands.
Mr. Graffin then accepted a position with the International Motor Company, builders of the famous "Mack" motor trucks, where he was connected as assistant to the cashier, but in 1913 he accepted a position with the Traylor Engineer- ing Company, Allentown.
Mr. Graffin is a member of St. John's Re- formed church choir. He is also a member of the following organizations: Allentown Lodge, No. 130, B. P. O. E .; Catasauqua Lodge, No. 269, I. O. O. F. ; Arion Society and Trebel Clef Club.
His family consists of his wife, Maude I., and the following children: John C .; Isabelle L., and William C. They reside at No. 136 North Eighth street, Allentown.
GRAMMES FAMILY.
Peter Grammes was born in Macungie town- ship and owned and occupied a farm in the ter- ritory now embraced in Upper Macungie. He was an agriculturist all his life. He and his wife Barbara Marks are buried at the Trexler- town church. Their children follow: Polly Ann was married to a Ludwig of Allentown; Judith Ann was married to Philip Haas and they lived at Lebanon, Pa .; Jonas; Aaron was a farmer upon an adjoining farm to the home- stead; Asa lived near Allentown and was the
father of the late Lewis F. Grammes of Allen- town; and Anna was married to Jonathan Blank. They moved to Illinois.
Jonas Grammes, son of Peter, succeeded his father to the homestead farm in Upper Macun- gie and there he was also born. He served the Lutheran congregation of the Trexlertown church as a trustee and there he is also buried.
He was married to Hannah, a daughter of John Koch and they had eight children, as fol- lows: Amanda (m. James Marks) ; Edwin, of Kuhnsville; Peter is unmarried and lives at Trexlertown; William; Jeremiah; Rosa A. (m. Frank Rabenold, of Wescoesville) ; Pauline (m. Oscar Lichtenwalner), and Martha, deceased, was the wife of Albert Unger, of East Texas.
William Grammes, son of Jonas, is a retired farmer in South Whitehall. He was born Sept. 8, 1842. In 1883 he moved to South White- hall near the Jordan Lutheran church where he owns a 75-acre farm upon which he built a large barn in 1892. This farm was the Dewald Kuhns homestead.
In 1909 Mr. Grammes retired, being suc- ceeded to farming by his son,. Milton M. He has served as a church official and was a school director for six years.
In 1874 he married Rosa, a daughter of De- wald Kuhns, and they have the following chil- dren: William J., Clinton D., Edgar E., Mil- ton M., Ralph W., Arthur P., and Emma R.
Jeremiah Grammes son of Jonas, succeeded his father to the homestead farm and this he successfully farmed until in 1908 when he re- tired. He served the Lutheran congregation at Trexlertown as a deacon and an elder and the township as a school director ..
He was married to Mary, a daughter of Jesse and Mary (Walbert) Marks. They have the following children: Albert; Carrie (m. Chas. Boyer) ; Elsie (m. O. Fenstermacher) ; Harry P .; Edna B .; and Eva A. R.
HARRY P. GRAMMES, a business man at Egypt, was born at Trexlertown, Aug. 7, 1882, son of Jeremiah Grammes. He was educated in the township schools, and at the Keystone State Nor- mal School, at Kutztown, from which he was graduated in 1904, afterward he taught school at Trexlertown one term ; two terms at Fairview and three terms at West Catasauqua in White- hall township. On Oct. 25, 1909, he became a partner with O. J. Fenstermacher at Egypt, and they are engaged in the mercantile business under the firm name of O. J. Fenstermacher & Co.
Socially, Mr. Grammes is a member of Camp No. 467, P. O. S. of A., at Trexlertown ; the I. O. O. F. at Fogelsville; the Redmen No. 97, and the K. G. E., both at Egypt.
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
WILLIAM C. GRAUL.
William C. Graul, chief engineer at the H. Leh & Company establishment in Allentown, was born May 2, 1857, in North Whitehall township. He attended the public school and learned the trade of blacksmith under his father until he was twenty-one years old. He then worked at his trade for the Lehigh Car Wheel & Axle Company at Fullerton, until 1885, when he entered the employ of H. Leh & Company, at Allentown, as an engineer, and several years afterward he was promoted to the position of chief engineer, which he has filled in a most sat- isfactory manner until the present time, a con- tinuous period covering nearly thirty years. -
Mr. Graul was married to Edna Mohr, a daughter of Horatio and Mary (Wagner) Mohr They had three children : Gertrude, m. J. A. Best, who have three children, Clarence, Helen and Willard; Nevin, who became a United States marine, cruised around the world from 1903 to 1907 on the United States cruiser Bancroft, and died of typhoid fever at the age of twenty-one years; and Harold, m. Mamie Moyer.
Harrison Graul, his father, was a blacksmith in North Whitehall township and followed his trade for many years, his shop having been be- tween Unionville and Schnecksville. He was married to Sallie Ann Beck, a daughter of Charles Beck, of Washington township, and they had seven children: Mary; William C; Annie, m. Samuel Marshall; Franklin; Ella, m. Jos- eph German; Laura, m. Joseph Falk; and Hiram, (who died young). They were mem- bers of the Lutheran Church at Unionville. He died at the age of sixty-eight years, and was buried in the Unionville cemetery.
CALVIN C. GREIMER.
Shoe manufacturer of Macungie, is a son of John Greimer, formerly of Orwigsburg, Pa., who was born in 1844 and died in 1884. He was a veterinary surgeon and for many years his practice extended through a large part of Schuylkill county. He was married to Leanda a daughter of Frank Music, of Orwigsburg. To Mr. and Mrs. Greimer the following children were born: John, and Scott, of Orwigsburg; Calvin C .; Edward, of Shenandoah ; Katie, wife of Abner Lohbach, of Pottsville; and Mamie, wife of Thomas Glennon, of Park Place, Pa., with whom the mother resides.
Calvin C. Greimer was born in Orwigsburg, Jan. 22, 1875. He was educated in the public schools of his native place and at the age of twelve years he started to work in a shoe factory in Orwigsburg, where he worked for twelve years, learned all the branches of the shoemaking
trade. Later he worked at his trade in Mauclı Chunk for two years and at Burksborough for one year. In 1898 he located at Macungie, where he was employed for four years by the Reliable Shoe Company. In 1902, the Century Shoe Company, (Ltd.) was organized. The company consists of J. H. Beidler, president ; A. E. Moyer, secretary and treasurer, two well known citizens of Emaus, and Mr. Greimer, who is the general manager, and has one-third interest in the company. Their factory consists of a three-story brick building, 30 feet by 80 feet. They employ seventy-five hands and man- ufacture 500 pairs of shoes daily.
In 1893 Mr. Greimer was married to Lillie Paul, daughter of John and Mary (Leibey) Paul, of Mahanoy City, Pa. They are the par- ents of four children: Edna May, bookkeeper and stenographer ; Ethel A., May I., and Mary H.
Mr. Greimer belongs to the following fra- ternal organizations: I. O. of O. T .; K. of the G. E .; P. O. S. of A .; Owls and F. O. E.
GRIESEMER FAMILY.
The ship "Thistle," which arrived at Phila- delphia, August 29, 1730, brought the ancestor of the Griesemers to America in the person of Valentin Griesemer. The passport, in posses- sion of Alfred Griesemer, of Allentown, gives the full name, John Valentine Grieshiemer, who together with his wife and four children-Cas- par, John, Anna Margaret, and Jacob, accord- ing to said passport, came from Lampedheim. The passport was given at Worms, April 28, 1730, and is signed by John Adam Hoerens.
Valentin Griesemer settled in Oley and later in Hereford township, Berks county, where he died about 1759. His son, Leonhard, was born in 1732, and died Jan. 5, 1821. He married Eliza- beth Lefebre. Mary Catharine, youngest child of Valentin, was born June 6, 1736, married John Cimius, and died Sept. 5, 1816.
John Griesemer, son of Valentin, was born in 1717. He was one of the first settlers along Cedar creek, where he secured from Jacob Earth- man, on May 23, 1738, a tract of 190 acres. He added to this land and at the time of his death owned nearly 600 acres of land. He was a mem- ber and one of the organizers of Zion Reformed congregation in Allentown, of which he was dea- con in 1765. He was naturalized Sept. 24, 1767. That he was a prominent and leading citizen of his time is shown by the following document from the Easton court records :
"This Indenture, made Oct. 2, 1769, between John Jennings, Esq., High Sheriff of the County of Northampton, John Moor, John Wetzell, Henry Allshouse, and John Greesamere, judges
458
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
and assistant judges of the one part, and Anthony Kletner, Jacob Dillinger, John Spearing, Philip Behm, Caspar Bauer and Jacob Friese, inspectors, freeholders of the said county, of the other part, witnesseth :
"That according to law and the charter of the Province of Pennsylvania, we, with many others did meet on the said second day of October, at Easton, in the said county, the place by law ap- pointed for election, and did then and there elect and chuse Jacob Morrey for Commissioner of the said county, for the ensuing year.
"In witness whereof we have hereto set our hands and seals the day and year above said."
On Dec. 21, 1774, John Griesemer was elected by the freeholders of the county a member of the Committee of Observation for the county and re- elected Sept. 27, 1775. This committee, in which he represented Whitehall township, was composed of leading men from each township, who took the first steps leading to independence in the county and who were the leading spirits during the Revo- lution. His three sons also served in the war. John Griesemer died Oct. 10, 1789, aged 72 years, in Lower Milford township, while on a visit to his relatives. He was buried in the old Allentown cemetery on Oct. 12th. On Oct. 7th, he made a non-cupative will, witnessed by George Herner and Jacob Smith. His estate was valued at £2,090 and consisted of a house and 270 acres in Whitehall township, adjoining land of Wil- liam Allen, Casper Schoenebruch and Peter Rhoads, and a house and 228 acres, adjoining the above, just over the line in Salisbury township, and also a tract of 100 acres of woodland. The first tract was valued at £1,250, the second at £650, and the third at £190. John, the eldest son, refused to accept the land at its valuation and it was accepted by Felix, the second son. The widow received one-third, £692.13.0. The eldest son received two shares and the other children each one share, amounting to £153.18.6.
John Griesemer married Anna Maria Brunner, daughter of Felix and Anna Barbara Brunner, who had only two daughters, the other daughter Anna Margaret having married (first) Peter Lynn, and (second) George Schantzenbach. Felix Brunner, by will, in 1760, left his estate of 274 acres to his two daughters.
John and Anna Maria Griesemer had eight children :
John Griesemer, who, with his wife, Cath- arine, and children: Solomon, born 1772; Anna Maria, born 1774; John, born 1776; and Eva Catharine, born 1778; removed from the town- ship.
Felix Griesemer, born in July, 1749, died Jan. 17, 1827. He married Juliana Margaret Knauss,
daughter of Gottfried and Anna Eva Knauss, but had no children.
Anna Maria Griesemer, born July 11, 1752, died Sept. 24, 1823, married Gottfried Knauss, Jr.
Catharine Griesemer, born April 12, 1754, died Sept. 10, 1790; married Paul Knauss. They re- moved to Allen township.
Gertrude Griesemer, born April 29, 1757, died June 12, 1836; married Peter Beisel.
Elizabeth Griesemer married George Blank. Abraham; and Isaac.
Abraham Griesemer, son of John, was born in 1759, and died July 26, 1821. He was buried on the old Allentown cemetery. He served as a private in the Revolution in Captain Reitz' com- pany of militia in 1781. He was a farmer and inn-keeper and built, in 1806, the hotel at Griese- mersville. In 1790, his uncle deeded to him a tract of 189 acres, which he sold to his son Solo- mon on May 27, 1820, for $5,691. He was one of the first county commissioners in 1812. He married Catharine Fogel, who was born in 1762 and died Jan. 24, 1834. They had seven chil- dren :
Elizabeth, born Oct. 19, 1783, married Abra- ham Bieber.
Hannah, born April 11, 1786, married, May 18, 1806, John Ried.
Solomon, born April 6, 1788, died April 5, 1874; married, Nov. 24, 1811, Elizabeth Butz, born in October, 1788, died Feb. 5, 1830.
Catharine, born June 17, 1792; married, Nov. 12, 1809, Jeremiah Trexler.
Lydia, married, Feb. 24, 1811, John Keck.
Magdalena, married, April 6, 1817, James Gebhard.
Mariana Griesemer.
A portion of the land taken up by John Griese- mer in 1738 is still owned by descendants, making a period of 175 years in one family. The present fair grounds, Greenwood cemetery and adjoining land were formerly owned by the family.
Solomon Griesemer, son of Abraham, was born in South Whitehall township, April 6, 1788. He was a farmer and also conducted the hotel at Griesemersville. In 1835, he was elected county commissioner on the Democratic ticket. He was a member of the Reformed Church and married Elizabeth Butz, daughter of James Butz, the issue being: Abraham, who went to Illi- nois; Edwin, m. to Caroline Keck, late of Al- lentown; William, m. to Elizabeth Sanders, went to Illinois; Mary Ann, m. to William Derr; Sarah A., m. to Reuben Moyer ; Elizabeth, m. to Ephraim Powell; Solomon ; Caroline, b. Dec. 21, 1824, m. in 1846 to Albert G. Gilkyson, last of Hoboken. N. J .; Benjamin, who went to
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
Illinois; and Catharine, who died single. Solo- mon Griesemer died April 5, 1874.
Solomon Griesemer, son of Solomon, was born at Griesemersville, South Whitehall township, Lehigh county, Feb. 25, 1823, died Feb. 11, 1897. He farmed and conducted the Griesemersville hotel until 1874, when he retired from the lat- ter, and moved to the farm (now the Phoebe Deaconess Home), where he passed the re- mainder of his life. He had been elected as school director and poor director by the Demo- cratic party. He was a member of Zion's Re- formed church, which he served for many years as deacon and elder. March 14, 1847, he mar- ried Maria, b. Oct. 31, 1823, d. Feb. 17, 1870, daughter of Jacob and Maria (Wiand) Edel- man, the issue being: 1. Carl, b. Jan. 12, 1848, d. Feb., 1848; 2. Sarah A .; 3. Anna E., b. July 10, 1852, d. April 25, 1888; 4. Matilda P., de- ceased, b. Nov. 28, 1854; m. to William Wen- ner. 5. David, b. March 31, 1857, d. May, 1903; m. to Louisa Smith ; 6. Alfred ; 7. Pris- cilla, b. Jan. 7, 1862; m. to Prof. Harry E. Ruhe ; 8. Clara, b. May 10, 1867, d. Jan., 1895. Solomon Griesemer married, second, Lavinia Kern.
Sarah Griesemer, daughter of Solomon, was born in South Whitehall township, June 8, 1850; was married to Jacob Hottenstein, son of Levi, May 10, 1875, from which union there was no issue. Mr. Hottenstein conducted the Eagle Hotel, Allentown, and was also in the hat busi- ness. She resides at 426 Hamilton street.
David Griesemer, son of Solomon, was born at Griesemersville, March 31, 1857. He was edu- cated in the public schools and Muhlenberg Col- lege, after which he engaged in lumbering and farming in Alburtis. He also managed the hotel at Griesemersville for some years. He later pur- chased his father's farm at Allentown and estab- lished Greenwood cemetery. After the death of his father, he moved to the old homestead, where he died May 18, 1903, aged 46 years. He was a member of the executive committee of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society and of the Allentown Board of Trade, and was also a member of Bar- ger Lodge, No. 333, F. & A. M., Bloomsburg Consistory, 32°, Allen Commandery, No. 20, K. T., Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Allen Lodge, No. 71, I. O. O. F., Lecha Wonk Tribe, I. O. R. M., Knights of Malta, and of Zion Reformed church.
Mr. Griesemer married (first) Louisa M., daughter of Christian Schmidt, of Allentown. She was born in 1857 and died in 1895. They had nine children: Elsie, deceased ; D. Frank, deceased ; Solomon C. J .; Harvey, deceased ; Clara ; Morris; Jacob; Jesse ; and Raymond. He
married (second) Rosa M. C. Kleppinger, and had one son, Jacob. His widow resides in Allen- town. Mr. Griesemer was buried on Greenwood cemetery, with full Knights Templar ceremonies, according to his expressed wish.
SOLOMON C. J. GRIESEMER, a stationer and business man of Allentown, was born in this city March 21, 1881. He was educated in the public schools and later in the American Commercial School. He was engaged on his father's farm until the latter's death, after which he became the owner of Greenwood Cemetery Association. On Jan. 4, 1910, he sold his interest in the cemetery association and purchased the stock of C. H. Schmidt, stationer at 808 Hamilton street, a lead- ing stationery store in the city, where he employs seven clerks. Mr. Griesemer owns a farm of 133 acres located two miles south of Macungie, which he has stocked and farms himself. He is a mem- ber of Zion Reformed church, and of the I. O. O. F., Knights of Friendship, and the Order of Moose.
On Oct. 4, 1902, he married Catharine M. Stuber, daughter of Henry and Louisa (Staley) Stuber, of Allentown. Mr. and Mrs. Griesemer have three children : Ruby, Elsie, and Cath- arine.
ALFRED GRIESEMER, son of Solomon, was born at Griesemersville, Lehigh county, Nov. 15, 1859. Later he worked on his father's farm, and in 1887, he took charge of the Griesemersville hotel, where he continued until the spring of 1908, when he moved to Allentown and since then has been engaged in various pursuits. He served as school director in S. Whitehall town- ship, for nine years. Fraternally is a member of K. of M., Lecha Wonk Tribe, No. 201, O. of Red Men; Hancock Conclave, No. 120, I. O. of Heptasophs, as well as of the Reformed church. He was married, Nov. 16, 1882, to Ida M. E., daughter of Oliver and Alvina E. (Ritter) John- son. The children are: 1. Orrien O., married to Stella Louden ; 2. Estie E., deceased ; 3. Rus- sell S., married to Bertha A. Bartholomew. 4. Olin A .; 5. Ida J .; 6. Mildred M., deceased ; 7. A. Earl; 8. Ralph. He resides at 1421 Lin- den street, Allentown.
JOHN G. GRIFFITH.
Griffith Griffith, of Caernarvonshire, North Wales, England, was a slate quarryman. He married Ellen Williams, daughter of John and Jane Williams. They ha'd thirteen children. two of whom emigrated to America, one of whom bore his father's name, Griffith.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Griffith Griffith upon his arrival in this coun- try, located at or near Granville, Washington county, New York, where he worked in the slate quarries, subsequently locating in Slating- ton, Pa., where he resided some years. In 1906 he migrated to some place on Staten Island, New York. He married in Wales, but his wife died before he came to America. They had children : I. John G .; 2. William; and Mary Griffith, of Slatington.
John G. Griffith, son of Griffith Griffith, Jr., was born March 5, 1857, in North Wales, Eng- land. He was reared and educated in his na- tive land, and at an early age he was engaged in the slate industries, continuing in this voca- tion until the age of twenty-two years, when he also in 1879, migrated to America, locating first at Granville, New York, where he worked in the slate industry for several years. He then worked in the iron ore mines at Mineville, Es- sex county, New York, for about two years. He was then engaged about the coal mines at Wilkes- Barre and Hazleton, Pa. for some years, going from thence to Bangor, Northampton county ; then in 1884 he located at Slatington, Pa. He was for some years foreman for the Carbon Slate Company. In 1908, he, with Evan J. Davis, William Davis, (his son), and Dr. Jenkins, of Albany, New York, leased a quarry and organ- ized the present Big Franklin Slate Company, which has since been successfully operated. Mr. Griffith is a member and deacon of the Welsh Presbyterian church. He is very active in all church work, especially in the Sunday school. He has been superintendent of the infant or primary department for several years, manifesting a deep interets in behalf of the children thereof, who regard and love him as their personal friend.
John G. Griffith married, May 30, 1886, Ella Jones, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Jones. Issue: Fourteen children, all of whom are liv- ing and still at home, viz: I. Ellen; 2. Thomas ; 3. Idwell; 4. Plato; 5. Elizabeth; 6. John; 7. Annie; 8. Catherine; 9. Margaret; 10. Wil- liam; II. Ruth; 12. Mary; 13. Jane; 14. Clara Griffith.
GRIFFITH FAMILY.
William Griffith, the father of Idwal W. and Samuel S., who are slate operators at Slating- ton, was born April 19, 1832, in Caernarvon- shire, in North Wales, and upon emigrating to America in 1849, he first traveled through a number of Western States, then located at Dan- ielsville, in Northampton county, where he be- came engaged as a slate operator. He worked in quarries for twenty years, then embarked in the business by purchasing a tract of land, embrac-
ing about 12 acres near Danielsville, Northamp- ton county, and forming a partnership with his eldest son Idwal, which traded under the name of William Griffith & Son. The plant was car- ried on successfully by them until the father died July 5, 1895. He was a member of Slatington Lodge, No. 440, F. and A. M .; also of the Welsh Presbyterian Church as well as a con- tributing member of the Indian-Land Church near Cherryville.
Mr. Griffith was married to Ann Williams (a native of North Wales, who was born in 1838, emigrated to America when a young woman, and died in 1890) ; and they had ten children: Cath- arine (married Richard Gardner, and they re- side at Newport, Rhode Island) ; Idwal W .; Hannah (died unmarried when 21 years old) ; Ann (died in infancy) Lizzie (married Robert Jones and died at Cambridge, Mass., in 1901) ; Samuel S., William (died in infancy) ; Ellen (married Rev. R. R. Jones, Reformed minister at Centre Hall, in Centre county) ; Martha (mar- ried H. Clinton Handwerk, at Slatington), and Charles (who died at Slatington in 1908, and left two children, Elizabeth and William).
IDWAL W. GRIFFITH, was born at Daniels- ville, Sept. 15, 1859, and educated in the local schools and at the Williamsport Commercial Col- lege. He then engaged in the slate business with his father, near Danielsville, and traded as Wil- liam Griffith & Son until the father died in 1895, when he and his two brothers Samuel and Charles acquired the business and it has been car- ried on since then under the firm name of Grif- fith Brothers Slate Co., in a successful manner, giving employment to upwards of twenty-five men.
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