History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 113

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: 854

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III > Part 113

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JACOB A. WAGNER.

Jacob Alvin Wagner was born at Limestone- ville, Montour county, Pa., July 19, 1864.

He is the son of William Alfred and Mary Martha (Gauger) Wagner.

On his father's side, he is a descendant of the Stupp, Bordner and Schneider families, early set- tlers of Tulpehocken, Berks county, and of Hans Jacob Wagner, who emigrated from Germany and arrived at Philadelphia, on the ship Robert and Alice, Sept. 24, 1742; and settled in Ma- cungie township, Lehigh county, Pa., in the year 1743. He, with his son, Jacob, the second, were among those who organized Lehigh Zion Lu- theran church, in 1745.

Jacob, second, was a soldier in the Revolution- ary War, and the father of ten children, their total ages amounting, it is said, to 1,000 years, among whom, was Michael Wagner, who died at the age of ninety-four years, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch.

WAGNER-MARSTELLER HOMESTEAD.

Upon his mother's side, Jacob Alvin Wagner is a descendant of the Gauger family, a portion of whom were massacred by the Indians, near

& G. Wagner-

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

Northkill, Tulpehocken district, Berks county, in the year 1758; he is also a descendant of Jacob Follmer, a member of the Pennsylvania Legis- lature from Northampton county, in 1776, and a descendant of the Eschbach and Romig families, early settlers of Lehigh county. His great-great- grandfather being Adam Romig, who is buried at Friedensville church cemetery.

Jacob Alvin Wagner received a high school education at Shenandoah, Ia., and when sixteen years of age, entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, as messenger boy, and was promoted, successively, to position of operator, train dispatcher and general agent, for that company. On Feb. 1, 1893, he was ap- pointed general superintendent of the Des Moines Union Railway, a large terminal rail- road, at Des Moines, Ia., over whose tracks, the trains of the various railroads entering Des Moines, reach the Union passenger station.

Mr. Wagner enjoys the confidence of those who know him. For two years he was president of the Iowa Railway Club, an organization of railroad officials and employees, from all depart- ments of railroad service, in Iowa. He is also a member of the executive committees of several railroad bureaus. As a citizen, he has been hon- ·ored by the city government, giving one of the streets of Des Moines his name.

Mr. Wagner married Myrtle Gamble, daugh- ter of Judge James DeKalb Gamble, of Knox- ville, Ia. Their son, Charles Warren, is a graduate of the Iowa State College, at Ames, Ia., with a degree of Bachelor of Civil Engineer- ing, and is a general contractor.

Their second son, Donald Forrest, while a law student, at the Iowa State University, was drowned, in the Des Moines river, on May 21, 1909, after saving the life of his girl companion. A reward was offered for the recovery of his body. The body was recovered twenty-four hours later, by his high school classmates, and the reward was used as a nucleus, to establish a fund, which is known as "The Donald Wagner Scholarship Fund." Various amounts from this fund are loaned to deserving boys and girls to complete their education.

REV. SAMUEL G. WAGNER, D.D.

Rev. Samuel G. Wagner, D.D., for thirty-six years pastor of St. John's Reformed church, Al- lentown, and widely known throughout the state for his long and useful ministerial work and his active labors in behalf of the educational and kindred interests of the Reformed Church, was born in the village of Paradise, Northumberland county, Oct. 4, 1831. His parents were Rev. Henry and Sarah Magdalene (Wiestling) Wag-

ner. Both were of German descent, the father having been born in Cumru township, Berks county, and the mother in Harrisburg, where her father, Dr. Samuel C. Wiestling, a native of Germany, had successfully practiced medicine for many years. The father's grandfather was originally from Germany.

Doctor Wagner spent his boyhood days in Lebanon, from 1836 to 1848, where he was a pupil in the local academy, under the care and tuiton of Prof. J. H. Kluge. In the spring of 1848, when seventeen years of age, he was ma- triculated as a student in the sophomore class of Marshall College, then located at Mercersburg, by which institution he was graduated with honor (being the salutatorian of his class) in September of 1850, when only nineteen years old. In the fall of 1851 he entered the Theological Depart- ment of the same school, became a graduate from it three years later, and then for the next two years remained as teacher of the Marshall Collegiate Institute. In the spring of 1855, after the required examination, he was licensed by the Mercersburg Classis of the Reformed Church of the United States to preach the gospel. His first pastorate after his ordination by the Classis of Philadelphia in the summer of 1855, was located in Montgomery county, and com- prised the so-called Boehm's church and the Whitemarsh church. This pastorate continued for thirteen years, until May, 1868, when he re- signed it to take charge of the St. John's Re- formed congregation of Allentown, which he served from June, 1868, to July 1, 1904, a period of thirty-six years.

Doctor Wagner served as stated clerk of one Classis and treasurer of another and was also president of the three several classes to which he belonged. He was frequently sent as a dele- gate to the district synod and to the general synod, and served as presiding officer of the former body. He was a member of the board of trustees of Franklin and Marshall College in 1878; a member and president of the board of visitors of the Theological Seminary about the same length of time; a member of the board of education of the Eastern Synod, and its presiding officer for a number of years; a member of the board of home missions and of the board of commissioners of Foreign Missions. He served as an assistant teacher in the Allentown College for Women from 1868 to 1875, and was from the latter year a member of the board of trustees, and many years its presiding officer. In 1880, his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. In earlier life he served on the committee to whom was entrusted the work of publishing the Mercersburg Review,

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and he occasionally contributed an article to its columns. He was always deeply interested in the cause of missions, both home and foreign, and by the hearty and generous co-operation of his parishioners, he was enabled to promote that bene- ficient cause to a large extent in Allentown and vicinity, as well as in foreign lands. They to- gether, and aided by his son, Rev. C. Ernest Wag- ner, while he was assistant pastor, together with the princely gift of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ruhe, and the contributions and assistance of other mem- bers and friends of the congregation, succeeded in the early nineties in organizing the Trinity Re- formed congregation in the western end of the city and in furnishing it with the chapel in which it originally worshipped and which it continues to use for Sunday school purposes.

They were interested also in the early work of other missions in the city, and the congregation, by its zeal, largely inspired the work of church extension in the Reformed Church in Allentown. After his retirement from the pastorate, Doctor Wagner continued to reside in Allentown until October, 1906, when he removed to Lancaster, where he took up his abode with his son, Prof. C. Ernest Wagner. The infirmities of age, which had been for some time apparent, continued steadily to strengthen their hold on him. With a Christian fortitude, such as he had preached through his long career, to others, he endured unto the end. His death, due immediately to cerebral hemorrhage, occurred on the night of Oct. 30, 1908. By seven years and tweny-six days he exceeded the scriptural limit of "three- score years and ten."

Funeral services were held in Lancaster and Allentown, the latter being attended by a con- course of mourners which filled St. John's Re- formed church to overflowing. He was buried in Fairview cemetery, beside the devoted wife who had preceded him in death on Dec. 1, 1900. The stone above his grave bears the simple epi- taph : "A good man-tried and true."

Doctor Wagner was married, on Oct. 18, 1859, to Miss Rebecca Earnest, of Norristown, the third daughter of William and Lucy Ear- nest. Mrs. Wagner was a woman highly re- garded by the community in which she lived, and was a valuable assistant to her husband in his arduous duties. They had four children, three of whom, all daughters, died in childhood. Their son, Prof. Charles Earnest Wagner, was born in Montgomery county, Oct. 10, 1864. He re- ceived his education in the public schools of Al- lentown, Muhlenberg College, the Theological Seminary of the Reformed church at Lancaster, and Oxford University, England, where he de- voted two years (1891-93) in further preparing

himself for doing the work in which he became engaged in 1893, as professor of the English language and literature in Franklin and Mar- shall College at Lancaster.

WILLIAM WALBERT.

Solomon Walbert was a farmer and hotel- keeper at Walbert Station, Lehigh county. He lived there his entire life and died there.

William Walbert, son of Solomon, was born on the farm, in 1821. His educational advan- tages were very limited; he attended the sub- scription schools during the winter, and assisted his father in the farm and hotel work, succeed- ing to his father's estate and business.

He conducted the same until 1868, when he disposed of the property and removed to Allen- town, purchasing the property at Seventh and Chew streets, where he opened a grocery, which he conducted for several years, then sold out. He then commenced the manufacture of hosiery on Turner street, and after a time removed his. factory to a building in the rear of his home on Chew street, where he remained until his retire- ment from active duties in 1896.

He was a member of Salem Reformed church, a Democrat, and was of a quiet disposition, do- mestic in his tastes, and devoted to his home and family. He died Oct. 1, 1904, and interment was made in Fairview cemetery.

He married Caroline Stettler, of Fogelsville, who died July 23, 1903, and was also interred in Fairview cemetery. She was also a member of the same church as her husband. She possessed many Christian virtues, and was a de- voted wife and mother. They had one daugh- ter, Catharine E., who was born at Walbert's Station, and educated in the public schools. She learned dressmaking, following this occupation for several years. She cared most tenderly for her parents in their declining years, and now resides at the family home on North Seventh street, which she remodeled and improved. She is an active member of Salem Reformed church, and is connected with its various societies.

WALD FAMILY.

The Wald (or Walt) families were pioneers in Pennsylvania. The ship Brittania, which landed at Philadelphia, Sept. 21, 1731, had abroad among its passengers, Oswald Wald and his family. The ships "original list," of passen- gers, gives the age of Oswald Wald at forty- one years; and that of his wife, Anna Barbara, at thirty-four years; and Rosolva, six years; and Hans Heinrich, four years. On the ship St. Andrew Galley, which arrived at the same port, September 24, 1737, was Conrad Wald. Both

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

these pioneers located in eastern Pennsylvania. The federal census of 1790, records the name of Henry Walt, of Montgomery county, the head of a family, consisting of a wife and one son un- der sixteen years of age. The same authority in the same year gives the name of Casper Wald, who likewise lived in Montgomery county, and besides a wife, had seven daughters and a son who was past sixteen years of age.

One Casper Walt, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, was a farmer on the "Spin- ner's Homestead," at Spinnerstown, Bucks county, Pa. He was a Lutheran and is buried at the Scheetz church, at Spinnerstown.

His children were: Jacob, John, George, Samuel, Catharine, and Christiana, who both died maiden ladies, and a Mrs. Snyder.

Samuel Walt, son of Casper, was born at Spinnerstown, April 14, 1815. He conducted the hotel at Spinnerstown, and was Overseer of the Poor of Bucks County. In 1847, he moved to Flourtown, Montgomery county, and for 13 years kept the Farmers' and Citizens' Hotel at that place. In December, 1859, he moved to Allentown, where he lived retired until his death, August 17, 1870. He is buried in the Union cemetery.

His wife, Mary Hausekeeper, came from Mil- ford Square, Pa. She was born June 26, 1822, and died June 26, 1895, on her seventy-third birthday. She was married a second time to Philip Miller. They had no children. The children by her first husband were: Christian, who died in infancy; Henry; Milton H .; Cath- arine, married William Burrman ; Mary A., mar- ried Alfred Weiler, a wholesale liquor dealer in Allentown; and Jacob, who died an infant ..

MILTON H. WALT, grocer, and for many years a councilman in Allentown, was born at Spinnerstown, Bucks county, Pa., November 20, 1846. When thirteen years old he came with his parents to Allentown where he attended the public schools. At the age/of fifteen years he learned the cigar making trade, which he fol- lowed twenty-seven years. Afterwards he was a letter-carrier of the city for five and one-half years; and for more than seven years he was a conductor on the trolley car. In December, 1899, he engaged in the grocery business at the corner of Eighth and Tilghman streets. He served as a councilman of Allentown sixteen years. He was a member of the select branch six years and of the common branch ten years.

He and his family are members of Zion Reformed church.

He married, in 1868, Rebecca Osman, daugh- ter of John Osman, a former coroner of Lehigh

county. They have these five children: Albert O .; Mary (m. Charles Barron, of Allentown) ; Milton, who died in 1906, aged 23 years, and Esther.

ALBERT O. WALT, proprietor of "Hotel Wal- ton," and a former councilman, who is a native of Allentown, was born December 21, 1868. At the age of eighteen years he learned the shoe- making trade with H. Leh & Company, and continued in their employ uninterruptedly for fifteen years. In 1904, he erected "Hotel Wal- ton," at the corner of Eighth and Linden streets, at the cost of $23,000. The building is modern throughout and contains thirty-six rooms.

In November, 1911, Mr. Walt, was elected as a Democrat, to the office of councilman, rep- resenting the Eighth ward. He has always taken an interest in municipal affairs. He is a mem- ber of Lecha Wonk Tribe, No. 201, I. O. R. M., and the Order of Beavers. He plays the trombone in the old Allentown Band since 1895. In 1906, he wedded Sallie A. Wieder, daughter of Elias and Sarah (Schuler) Wieder. They have two children, namely: George W., and Russel M.

WALKER FAMILY.

John Walker was born at Lustnau, Oberamt Dubingen, in Wurtemberg, on April 21, 1822. He learned the trade of a carpenter and this he followed in the Fatherland until his emigration to the United States in 1848 or '49. He lived at New York about two years, then went to Cata- sauqua, Pa., where he lived until his death, April I, 1897. He helped to build many canal locks and boats for the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co., in whose employ he was for many years.

He and his family were members of the Lu- theran church. His wife was Sophia Catharine Kurtz, born at Lickentau, Rotenbuch, Bavaria, on February 25, 1831, and died at Catasauqua on March 11, 1899. Their twelve children were:

Wilhelm A., born Dec. 29, 1852. Margaret S., born Jan. 25, 1854. Johannes, born Mar. 17, 1856.

Heinrich Geo., born April 3, 1858.

Christian A., born Feb. 28, 1860. . Philip F., born Feb. 3, 1862. Edward L., born Jan. 13, 1864. Robert J., born Feb. 1, 1866. Robert J., died April 3, 1867. Elizabeth S., born Dec. 25, 1867.

Ida S., born Oct. 25, 1869. Frank J., born Aug. 31, 1871. Ella A., born Aug. 2, 1873.

William A. Walker, of Catasauqua, was born at Hastings, N. Y., December 29, 1852. When he was fifteen years old he learned the mould- ing trade at Fullerton, following it ever since,

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

excepting two and one-half years, when he kept the Union House at Catasauqua. He has lived at Catasauqua since his removal to that place, and there he became a member of Castle 441, K. G. E. (of which he is a past chief) ; and also of the P. O. S. of A.

In 1878 he was married to Mary Harteg, a daughter of John and Mary ( Monica) Harteg, natives of Germany. Their children are: John (m. Lena Guinther), Howard (m. Ida Dot- terer ), Minnie, Raymond, Lewis, and Helen.

John Walker was born at Catasauqua on March 17, 1856, and he has lived there since then. He learned the moulding trade with the Davis-Thomas Co., and was employed by them for thirty-five years. He also worked at the trade in New Jersey for thirteen months and at Scranton, Pa., for a short time; then returned to his native town to become connected with the "Walker House" on Race 'street. In 1878, he was married to Rebecca Bahr, who died March 3, 191I, at the age of 60 years. They had two children: Arthur (mentioned later), and Hec- tor (who died aged ten years).

Henry G. Walker, of Catasauqua, who has charge of the blacksmith 'department of the Davis-Thomas Co., was born April 3, 1858. On the anniversary of his fifteenth birthday he began learning the carriage-blacksmith trade with F. W. Becker, and he remained in his em- ploy about three years, then he followed his trade in the employ of the Lehigh Car-Wheel & Axle Works until in 1898, when he became foreman of the blacksmith department of the Davis-Thomas Company.

He and his family are members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and a past chief of the K. G. E. Poli- tically he is a Democrat. On May 26, 1877, he was married to Ida R., a daughter of James and Hannah (Sisson) Schanaberger. They had four children: Jennie M. (who died aged ten years) ; Gertrude; Bert J. I (a blacksmith at Elizabeth, N. J.) ; and Fred J. (mentioned later ) .

PHILIP F. WALKER, butcher, at Catasauqua, was born February 3, 1862. At the age of fifteen years he learned the butchering trade and this he has followed ever since. He killed all his own beef until in 1900, and employed as many as eight men. His meat market, noted for its cleanliness, is located at 228 Second street. On March 10, 1883, he was married to Sarah C. Eckert, daughter of John and Amelia ( Rein- smith) Eckert, late of Catasauqua. They had four children: Irene A. (married to George A. Helving, an employe in the Quarter-Master Dept., U. S., at Philadelphia) ; Thomas (married

Ella Schultz and they reside at Catasauqua) ; and Wesley and Tillie, who died infants.

EDWARD L. WALKER, proprietor of the Eagle Hotel at Catasauqua, was born at that place on January 13, 1864. He began working as a moulder for the Davis-Thomas Co., the first day on which the opened their foundry in 1878 and continued there until in 1897, a period of nineteen years. In 1897, he became the pro- prietor of the "Walker House" in East Cata- sauqua and conducted it for nine years. On April 1, 1906, he moved to Allentown; but on November 6th of that year he became the owner and proprietor of the "Eagle Hotel," the lead- ing public house of the "Iron City," being lo- cated on Front and Bridge streets, opposite the Lehigh National Bank. The hotel has forty rooms and is conducted along modern plans. He has been a member of the Catasauqua Band for the last quarter of a century; also a mem- ber of the F. O. E., and the I. O. O. F.

On May 14, 1882, he was married to Annie F. Feather, a daughter of Michael and Margaret (Howercorn) Feather (who lived and died in Germany). Mr. Walker and his wife have four children: Minnie C. (married Claude Zieg- enfus, and they reside at Coplay) ; George F., Rosa E., and Anna M.

ARTHUR E. WALKER was born December 7, 1879. At the age of seventeen years he learned the moulding trade with the Davis-Thomas Co., and he was in their employ for eight years. On April 1, 1906, he succeeded his uncle Edward L. to the proprietorship of the "Walker House" on Race street, and has since carried on the Hotel.

For a period of eight years Mr. Walker was a professional baseball player, and during that time was connected with the following teams: Catasauqua for four years; Tri-State for one year ; Clinton, of New Jersey; Washington, of New Jersey ; and also the Milton and Tamaqua teams in Pennsylvania. He was a crack pitcher and played several championship games success- fully. In 1905 he refused a position with the Athletics of Philadelphia. The Historical So- ciety of Pennsylvania in 1905 published a ballad on Mr. Walker and his successes over his com- petitors. He is tall and wiry.

In 1903, Mr. Walker married Sadie Kane, a daughter of Morris Kane, and they have a son, Edward L.

FRED J. WALKER, of Catasauqua, is the as- sistant treasurer of the Davis-Thomas Co. He was educated in the Catasauqua public schools and left the high school in 1903, four months before his graduation in order to accept a posi- tion in the office of the Davis-Thomas Co. His

ing by E.G. Williams & Bro. N.Y.

Very@ricerEl.

John Frakk

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

promotions were rapid and in 1907 he became the chief clerk and bookkeeper of the company, a position for which he had qualified himself in the evenings at the American Commercial School, at Allentown. Since 1910 he has served his present position of assistant treasurer. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, of the Knights of the Golden Eagles, and of the Cata- sauqua Club.

DANIEL Z. WALKER.

Daniel Z. Walker, of Allentown, real estate dealer and insurance agent is a son of the late Rev. Richard Walker, a former pastor of the First Presbyterian church, Allentown. Rev. Walker was born May 1, 1812, and died May 10, 1882. On April 1, 1842 he began his work as pastor of the First Presbyterian church in Allentown. He was regularly installed by the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia, in May, 1844. In 1845 Rev. Walker raised six thousand dol- lars to pay off the debt of the church. He re- signed December 6, 1856. During his pastorate one hundred and forty members were added to the church. Later he preached at Alburtis and at Catasauqua. He was married to Henrietta C. Zellers, a daughter of Rev. Daniel Zellers, a Reformed clergyman. She was born July 12, 1821, and died August 4, 1903. To Mr. and Mrs. Walker the following children were born: Richard, of Allentown; Daniel Z., of Allen- town; George W., of New York; and Annie E., married to Rev. Wm. E. Marden, a Presbyterian clergyman, of Troy, New York.

Daniel Z. Walker, son of Rev. Richard Walk- er, was born in Allentown in 1852. He was educated in the private school of his father. He also attended Prof. Gregory's Academy in which many of the leading citizens received their edu- cational training. When a young man, Mr. Walker became a clerk in the Second National Bank of Allentown, which position he filled for many years.

In 1882 he resigned the position to engage in the real estate and insurance business in which he has been prominently and actively identified ever since. He was one of the organizers of the Merchants' National Bank and has been a director since its organization. Upon the or- ganization of the chamber of commerce, Mr. Walker was elected its first president, and filled this office three years. He has been identified prominently in civic matters for a period of up- wards of a quarter of a century. For several years he was chairman of select council. It was during this period that the Lehigh Valley and Reading Railroads were brought into the city. Mr. Walker is a member of Barger Lodge

No. 333, F. and A. M .; also all the Masonic bodies, which he served in all its highest offices with great merit. For a period of seven years he held the honored position of District Deputy Grand High Priest of the district which em- braces Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon and Mon- roe counties. He is a member of St. John's Re- formed church since 1876 and has served this church as deacon for six years. In 1876 he was married to Sarah S. Wetherhold, a daughter of William and Mary (Mattern) Wetherhold, of Philadelphia. They have an only daughter, Helen May, the wife of Arthur E. Keller, mem- ber of the firm of E. Keller & Sons, jewelers of Allentown. Mr. and Mrs. Keller have a son, Edwin Walker Keller.

SAMUEL WALLITSCH.

Samuel Wallitsch, of Coplay, proprietor of the Coplay House, was born in Austria, Feb- ruary 19, 1878; emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1903, locating in Allentown. He lived eight years at Allentown, though employed at the ma- chinist trade by the Bethlehem Steel Company, by other establishments; then on May 1, 1911, he became the proprietor of the Coplay House, at Coplay, succeeding John Harvelick, deceased. The hotel has eighteen rooms and was erected by Samuel J. Guth, in 1900.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 113

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: 854

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: 854