USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III > Part 114
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Mr. Wallitsch and family are members of the Lutheran church. He is also a member of the Allentown Turner and Liederkrantz and of the. Gellert Lodge, No. 202, D. O. H. In 1905 he married Francisco Muehl, daughter of Joseph Muehl, a native of Austria. They have two children: Joseph S., and Francisco.
REV. JOHN J. WALSH
Rector of the Immaculate Conception Church.
The Rev. Father Walsh was born on July 5, 1862, at Lake Run, Schuylkill county. His parents were James and Julia Walsh. Born of humble parents, in modest environments, his boy- hood days were spent in that vicinity, a section that is cherished by him. He received his early education at Furnace, Pa., and New Philadelphia. Subsequently he entered a school at Tuscarora from which he graduated with honors. A short time following his graduation he became associat- ed with Rev. Joseph Bridgemann, rector of the Catholic Church at Tamaqua. Under the lat- ter's careful guidance he received his first instruc- tions in his religious vocation.
When eighteen years of age he entered St. Charles Borremeo Seminary at Overbrook to study for the priesthood. For the following eight years his entire time was devoted to preparing
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
for his life's work, and that he was a close stu- dent was evidenced by the fact that he passed two classes. The year prior to his ordination he was ordained a deacon. He graduated at the head of his class, having attained great honors while a student.
On May 20, 1888, Trinity Sunday, he was consecrated a priest by the late Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Ryan, Archbishop of the diocese of Philadel- phia. The conferring of the Sacrament of the Holy Order was held in St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral, corner of Race and Eighteenth streets, Philadelphia.
He celebrated his first mass at Tamaqua in the edifice where he received his early religious instructions, known as St. Jerome's Church, Rev. John McCullough, rector.
His first assignment was to the Church of Our Mother of Sorrows, in Philadelphia, where he was a curate to Rev. J. W. Shanahan, now bishop of Harrisburg.
Subsequently he was transferred to the Church of the Visitation, Philadelphia, where he was an assistant to Rev. A. A. Gallagher. In the latter charge he served faithfully for a period of five years.
His first pastorate was at St. Thomas Church, Ivy Mills, having been transferred from the Church of the Visitation. For six years he re- mained in charge and chiefly through his untiring efforts the congregation became one of the most flourishing in that section.
On February 15, 1905 he was sent to Allen- town as the rector of the Church of the Immacu- late Conception to succeed the late Rev. P. F. Donegan. Since that time the new parish school and convent were erected to accomodate four hundred children and he has remained as head of that parish and his work has been most praise- worthy.
WALTER FAMILY.
The Walter family is one of the early settled families of Northampton county and there Jacob Walter was born before the Revolutionary war. He was a farmer and made frequent trips to Philadelphia by team. His 30-acre tract, upon which he lived, was located in the vicinity of Hecktown, and there he died about 1840, more than 70 years old. He and family were Lu- therans. His children were: Andrew, Han- nah (married Adam Klippel, a native of Ger- many), Susanna (married Samuel Shireman and settled in Lycoming county, Pa.), John (farmer, who in 1870 moved to Michigan), and William (who settled in Indiana).
Andrew Walter, son of Jacob, obtained the homestead of his father. He was born there
December 10, 1820, followed farming and died September 8, 1888, in his 69th year. He mar- ried Hettie Snyder, born February 27, 1822, and died April, 1898, aged 76 years. Both are buried at Nazareth, Pa. Their children were: William H .; Susanna .(married Jacob Keichen- thal ) ; Richard (died young) ; Samuel; Lucy (married Lewis Breinig) ; Sarah (died in her 18th year) ; Frank; Ellen (married Owen Sieg- fried ) ; Mary Alice ( died aged 20 years) ; Het- tie (married Martin Paules) ; Nathan (died aged 34 years ) ; Freeman ; Dr. Peter E .; Alfred, and Edwin, both of Nazareth. William, Sam- uel, Freeman and Dr. Peter E. reside at Dallas City, Illinois. William and Freeman are car- riage manufacturers. Samuel has a hardware store and was burned out twice; and Dr. Peter E. follows his profession.
FRANK WALTER, son of Andrew, was born De- cember 5, 1848. He began life as a tenant farm- er and in five years moved upon his own 78-acre farm in Little Hanover tonwship. He farmed there eleven years, then moved upon his present farm, where he lived until 1892. After having been away ten years, he returned to carry on the farm. This homestead was the property of George Schraher and it consists of 13 acres. The larger farm Mr. Walter has rented to his son, George A. He and family are Lutheran members of the Shoenersville church. He served it as deacon for six years, and as trustee for three years. In politics he is a Democrat, and he served his district as supervisor and school di- rector. On September 8, 1870, he married Mantana, daughter of George and Mary (Wil- lauer ) Schraher, who lived where Mr. and Mrs. Walter now make their home. Their five chil- dren were: Minnie (married J. Muschlitz, who have a son, Warren) ; and George A. (married Lizzie Daniel, who have four children: Her- bert, Paul, Annie and Edna). Both these fami- lies live at Rock & Hill, in Northampton county. Minnie, the third child, married C. W. Culp. They live at Dorney's Park and had four chil- dren: George and Myrtle, who died in infancy ; Ira T. and Clayton F., who died of diphtheria, aged three years, and were buried in one grave.
AARON H. WAMBOLD.
George Wambold, the father of Aaron H. Wambold, was a resident of Lehigh county. He was twice married. By his first wife, Mary, he had the following children: Benneville, lived at Vera Cruz, Pa .; Daniel, was a farmer near Akron, Ohio; Elizabeth (Wagner) ; Maria, married Henry Smith; Aaron H., and John, lived at Cleveland, Ohio.
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
Aaron H. Wambold, of Allentown, was born near Hosensack, Pa., September 16, 1857. He worked upon the farm until he was twenty-one years old. He then worked in the iron ore mines on Lehigh mountain until about 1888, when he removed to Old Zionsville, where he was an engineer at an ore mine until 1894, when he ac- cepted a position as fireman with the American Steel and Wire Co., at Allentown, to which city he had moved with his family. Afterwards he was employed respectively with the Rapid Transit Company for six years, C. B. Krouse for two years, Dungan & Frey for six years, and Prince Furniture Company for six years. All told he was employed for fourteen years (the three last places) at 520 Hamilton street. He is now an engineer at the Allentown Hospital. He is an independent voter and devoted member of the United Evangelical Church. He has mem- bership in the P. O. S. of A., the Independent Americans, and the American Steam Engineers.
He married Rebecca Dorney, daughter of Josiah and Maria (Esterly) Dorney, of South Whitehall township.
WANNAMACHER FAMILY.
Marcus, Jacob, Sr., and Philip Wannamacher were cousins and settled in Lynn township at an early day. Marcus located on land around and including Lynnport. He lived in a house which stood by a spring near where the depot at Lynn- port now stands. His name does not appear in the assessment of 1781, but the names of Jacob, Sr., Jacob, Jr., Philip, and Casper do appear.
Jacob Wannamacher, Sr., lived near Lynn- port. He built the grist mill now owned by Alue Billig. He was born March 28, 1754, and died October 31, 1828. His wife, Anna Maria - was born in 1757, and died in 1832. They had four children: Jacob (1778-1851), Christian (1779-1862), Daniel (1785-1834), and a
daughter who married Jacob Wetherold.
Jacob settled on a part of the tract of his father. He was at one time a county commis- sioner. His wife was Elizabeth Barbara , (1786-1872). Their family is scattered.
Christian was born April 11, 1779. He was a miller and farmer at what is now Wanamaker, in Lynn. He died November 4, 1862, in his 84th year. Maria Everett, his wife, was born in 1783, and died in 1840. Their children were: Charles (who was a merchant at Philadelphia, where he died) ; Daniel, who erected the hotel at Wanamaker, and had four children, Amandes, Albert, Cordelia (m. James K. Mosser), and Sarah (m. Adam Hahn) ; Sally (m. Samuel Her- many) ; and Rebecca (m. Jesse Follweiler ).
Philip Wannamacher, one of the first three
named, resided on part of the tract upon which Edwin Hermany later lived. He was born June 16, 1760, and died September 24, 1839, in his 80th year. At the time of his death he was the wealthiest man in the township. His wife was Catharine Elizabeth Schitz, who was born in 1758, and died in 1835. Catharine, their only child, was married to Joseph Sechler, and settled on the homestead.
Casper Wannamacher was born February 13, 1780, and settled on part of the original tract which later was owned by his son, Daniel (who was deaf and dumb). Benjamin Henry, of Lynnport, now owns this long-settled homestead. Casper died February 20, 1848. His wife was Elizabeth ---- , born in 1778, and died in 1855. They had three sons and five daughters: Joseph, Daniel and Jesse; Catharine (m. David Foll- weiler ), Susan (m. Reuben Fetherolf), Mrs. Mathias Kerschner, Anna Maria (m. Abraham Leidy, who also had settled at Lynnport), and another whose name is unknown.
Joseph Wanamaker operated the Wanamaker mill near Lynnport for many years and later he became a drover and moved to Allentown where he died and was buried. He and his wife, Mary Brobst, were Lutherans. Their children were: Lovina, Kate, Daniel, Mary, Sarah, James, Polly, John and Charles B. (the last named at Allentown). He was born in 1853 and became a painter. In 1900 he engaged in the moving picture business. In 1907 he was defeated at the general election for the office of Register of Wills by only 37 votes, after having been a candidate for twenty-one years. He is a member of a num- ber of lodges. He married, first, Alzenia Sny- der, and they have one daughter, Annie (married to H. F. Stocker, of Lehighton). In 1897 he married, second, Rosa Hallman.
NEIL A. WARD.
Neil A. Ward, merchant of Allentown, was born in the same city, April 11, 1875. He was educated in the public schools of his native city. At the age of thirteen years he became an office boy and a year later a bookkeeper and for ten years was in the employ of M. F. Morrissey, 729 Hamilton street. From 1898 to 1899 he man- aged a branch store for M. F. Morrissey in Tamaqua. In 1899 he became the manager of an installment " house in Philadelphia and con- tinued there seven years. In 1905 he erected the building at 409 Ridge Avenue and engaged in the ladies' and gents' furnishing business. In politics Mr. Ward is a Democrat and he rep- resented the Sixth ward on the school board for two terms, being a member of the board of control. In 1911 he was one of the most active
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
men in agitating a bank for the Sixth ward. The bank was opened in 1912. During the period of organization he was secretary. In 1904 he was married to Catharine O'Donnell, daugh- ter of the late Neil and Catharine ( Mulligan) O'Donnell. Mrs. Ward was born at McAdoo. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are the parents of the fol- lowing children: Fred, Mary, Anna, and Neil, Jr.
Patrick Ward the father of Neil A., came from Ireland in 1849, and located at Mauch Chunk and was the first brakeman on a coal train that ran on the L. V. R. R., which road he help- ed to complete. From Mauch Chunk he moved to Easton, where he was married in 1860 to Ann Gallagher, daughter of James and Mary (Camp- bell) Gallagher. In 1862 he came to Allentown where he has since resided. He became natural- ized in 1854 and has ever since voted the Dem- ocratic ticket. He was born in 1832 in County Donegal, Ireland. He now resides at 407 Ridge Avenue which property he erected in 1867. He is the father of the following children: Kate, Minnie, John, James, Charles, and Neil A., mentioned above.
REV. A. W. WARFEL.
Rev. A. W. Warfel, pastor of the United Evangelical Church at Catasauqua, was born in the year 1848, son of George B. and Susan War- fel, who lived in Conestoga township, Lancaster county, Pa. He was reared on a farm, and attended the township schools until he was fif- teen years of age, when he was deprived from further attending school to continue work on the farm. But he utilized his spare time by hard study, thus acquiring his education. He taught school one term and learned the trade of wagon-maker. He united with the Evangelical church in 1866, and shortly afterward was chosen a class leader, which position he held until in 1873. In 1871 he was frequently called upon by the regular pastor to fill his appointments and he preached somewhere almost every Lord's Day. He also officiated at funerals. He was licensed to preach in 1873 and since then has been in continuous service. He was pastor of the fol- lowing congregations : Mount Nebo, Terre Hill, Harrisburg, Adamstown (two terms), Shamokin, Reading Trinity, Reading St. Paul, Perkasie, Quakertown, Fleetwood, Emerald, and Catasauqua. About 1,700 persons were con- verted under his pastorate and added to the church. He was twice married: first to Chris- tie Snavely, and second, to Rosie Schaffer. He has two sons, one a businessman at Reading, Pa., and the other a druggist at Lancaster, Pa.
WARMKESSEL FAMILY.
The ancestor, Michael Warmkessel, was one of the pioneer settlers of Macungie township, now Lehigh county, and in 1762 he paid a tax of six pounds in that district. Among his chil- dren were Christian, Francis, and Frederick. The federal census of 1790 records Christian and Frederick as heads of families in Northampton county. The former lived in Lehigh township, and the latter in Allen township. Francis lived near the line of Macungie and Maxatawny townships, and was recorded as having three sons in 1790.
Frederick Warmkessel had sons, Frederick, Jr., and Joseph, also a daughter, Mrs. Daniel Schmoyer, who lived in Upper Macungie town- ship. Joseph Warmkessel accompanied by his brother, Frederick, settled in Longswamp town- ship. He was a farmer and a weaver by trade. His homestead is now owned by a Knappenberger and is upwards of forty acres. Joseph was mar- ried to Magdalena, a daughter of Jacob Romig, and they are buried at the Mertztown church of which they were Lutheran members. Their children follow :
Lucus, who lived in Lower Macungie.
Aaron, who lived in Longswamp.
Joseph, who remained upon the homestead.
Jacob, who lived at the Lehigh church.
Thomas, who lived near Rothrocksville.
James, whose history follows.
Lucy Ann, m. Reuben Neumoyer, and they lived in Ohio.
Susan, who died unmarried.
James Warmkessel, of South Whitehall, was born Aug. 29, 1826, in Longswamp township. He attended the old pay schools and paid a tuition from two to two and one-half cents per day. At the age of seventeen years he learned the tailor's trade, which he followed in Max- atawny township. In 1864 he began farming in Upper Macungie and in that year wheat sold at $3.55 per bushel. For four years he farmed near Catasauqua in Whitehall township. In 1882 he came from Upper Macungie to South Whitehall township, where he owns a valuable farm of sixty acres, situated near Cetronia. He was a Lutheran elder of the Cedarville church for two terms.
On Dec. 21, 1851, he married Mary Ann, daughter of Jesse and Lydia (Siegfried) Larash. She died on June 29, 1904, aged 71 years. The following children are born unto them:
Calvin (1853-54).
Anna Louise, m. Peter Sittler.
Cassiann ( 1856-1858).
Jesse M., of Whitehall township.
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
Alfred H., of South Whitehall township. James A. ( 1861-1863).
Daniel J., resides upon the homestead.
Emma M. (1867-1869).
Sarah A. (1868-1883).
JESSE M. WARMKESSEL, farmer of Whitehall township, was born near Rothrocksville, Berks county, Oct. 29, 1859. He was reared upon the farm and learned the blacksmith trade at Fogelsville, which he followed two years. In 1882 he began farming in Whitehall township and two years later he moved to Kutztown, where he also remained two years. He resided at Trexlertown for four years and in 1890 he again moved to Whitehall township and is now conducting the farm of Mrs. Troxell, his mother- in-law. Mr. Warmkessel, politically is a Repub- lican. He is a member of the Lutheran congre- gation of Mickleys church, which he has served as deacon, elder, and trustee. In 1881 he was married to Lillie A. J. Troxell, a daughter of Lewis and Mary (Henninger ) Troxell. They are the parents of the following children: Ger- trude, wife of Harvey G. Helfrich; Alice M. A., wife of Charles Henninger; Anna, died in infancy ; Minnie H. A., wife of William Her- bater; Ada F., wife of Harvey Worman; Este]- la E .; Esther; James R .; Oliver J. and Wilbur.
Jacob Warmkessel, son of Joseph, was born Jan. 8, 1814, in Lower Macungie township. He was a tinsmith by trade and had his shop aside of the present Weiler's general store in Lower Macungie. There he carried on the business for many years. He was married to Lovina Dankel, born July 15, 1821, and died in March, 1892. He died on Feb. 8, 1895, aged 81 years. They are buried at the Lehigh church, of which he was an official member of the Lutheran con- gregation and his wife belonged to the Reformed congregation. They had the following children : 1. Eliza, married to George Christ. 2. Francis. 3. Menno. 4. Jacob E. 5. Telilah, married to Charles Weaver. 6. Mary, married to Henry Romich. 7. Catharine, married to Henry Butz. 8. Ellen, died, aged 16 years. 9. Emma. 10. Aquilla, died, unmarried. 11. George.
Jacob E. Warmkessel, son of Jacob, was born Jan. 17, 1843, at the Lehigh church. At the age of eighteen years he learned the tombstone cutting trade from Daniel Bittenbender. He took his first music lesson from Frank H. Kuder and began his musical career as organist at Hain- burg, Pa., during the Civil War, officiating, as was the custom in those days as sexton and tomb- stone cutter in addition to training the choir and playing the organ at services. He was stationed in Hamburg for eight years and then secured a position in St. Michael's church, Tilden town-
ship, Berks county, where he remained nine years. It was while at St. Michael's that Rev. Benjamin Zweizig preached, who was probably the best known minister, not only in Berks county, but also over Eastern Pennsylvania.
An interesting fact is recalled in connection with his services at this church in that on the day when St. Michael's church was dedicated some fifty carriages were burned up when some one carelessly ignited the leaves in the woods near the church and in which many church members had tied their teams.
From St. Michael's Mr. Warmkessel came to Fogelsville where he has been for thirty years, pursuing in addition to his duties as an organist, the work of stone cutting, at which he is an ar- tist. He is probably the last organist in this section of the state to pursue the trade of stone- cutter.
Lately he has been ill with an affection of the heart and in order that he may not overtax him- self he played his valedictory to the congregation at Fogelsville on Sunday, Dec. 8, 1912. His much regretted resignation closed an active musi- cal career of almost fifty years. He probably was the last of country organists whose tenure of of- fice was a life-time, and who in many instances had become more closely identified with the con- gregation than the preacher himself. Mr. Warmkessel transmitted his musical talents to his children, although but two of them have ac- tively taken up music.
He was married, in December, 1856, to Ele- mina Wagonhorst, daughter of Henry and Han- nah (Ludwig) Wagonhorst, of Maxatawny township. Six children bless their union, viz : Francis R .; Henry J .; Lillian J., married to Richard Kramlich, of Fogelsville; Anna F., married to Dr. D. W. B. Kupp, of Reading; Morris O., died, aged 5 years; and Horace O.
Horace O. Warmkessel, musician, expert ac- countant, and chief bookkeeper, of the Dietrich Motor Car Company, Allentown, was born Oct. 22, 1883, at Fogelsville. He was educated in the public schools at Fogelsville and graduated from the American Commercial School, Allen- town, in 1908. At the age of seventeen years he began teaching school. He taught his first two terms at Fogels school in Lower Macungie, the next two terms he taught in Schlauchs school in Upper Macungie and the following three terms he taught at Packer Hill (Fullerton). He wound up his career as a public school teacher in serving the principalship of the Cementon schools during the term of 1907-8. On March 23, 1908, he accepted his present position with the Dietrich Motor Car Company and since Oc- tober, 1909, he is a notary public.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Mr Warmkessel inherited a musical talent from his father and when a lad of thirteen years took lessons from Frank H. Kuder who also was his father's instructor many years before. Later our subject was a pupil of the late and lamented Prof. C. A. Marks, who was a prom- inent musician of the Lehigh Valley. Mr. Warmkessel is the organist and choir-leader of the St. Peter's Ev. Lutheran Church, at Rit- tersville, since February, 1907. He has served as organist and choir leader of the following churches : St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church, Fog- elsville, 1902-1904; Salem Evangelical church, Allentown, 1904-1906; and the Episcopal Church, Allentown, from 1906 until he began serving the present congregation. He and fam- ily are members of the St. Peter's Ev. Lutheran church, at Rittersville.
Socially he has membership in the following lodges: Jordan Lodge, No. 673, F. & A. M., and Constantine Lodge No. 1113, I. O. O. F.
He was married, June 21, 1911, to Nancy Jenkins, whose father's history appears else- where in this volume. Unto them is born a son, Carl Andrew Warmkessel.
Frederick Warmkessel, Jr., removed from the vicinity of Easton to Longswamp township, Berks county, and was a weaver by trade and also followed farming, having a tract of forty acres. He was married and among his chil- dren was a son, Samuel, whose history follows
Samuel Warmkessel for a time was a wool- hat maker in Longswamp township, but later he made brooms during the winter months and in the summer conducted a truck farm in Long- swamp, where he died at the age of 71 years. He was a Lutheran member of the Mertztown church which he served as a trustee.
He was married to Susanna Beaver, of Berks county. She died in 1906, aged 82 years. Both are buried in the Mertztown cemetery. Their children were: Jane, Elias, Elizabeth, widow of James Gerry; Rachel, wife of Charles Weiss, Allentown; Moses, whose history follows ; Leah, married to Joseph Gilleline, and they reside at Atlantic City, N. J .; and Jonas, of Northamp- ton, Pa.
MOSES WARMKESSEL was born in Long- swamp township, Oct. 14, 1855. He attended the local schools and when 12 years old he be- gan working in ore mines. When fifteen years old he became an engineer at the mines at Sham- rock, serving the position at that place for three years. Afterwards for a period of seventeen years he followed the same occupation at different ore beds in Berks and Lehigh counties. In 1903 he became a watchman and engineer for Hess Brothers at Allentown. Afterward he was em-
ployed at Fullerton, also the Atlas Portland Ce- ment Company. On March 28, 1908, he be- came the engineer at the Muhlenberg College, where he has continued up to the present time.
He retains his membership in the Lutheran congregation at Mertztown; and belongs to the Shamrock Beneficial Society.
He married Sarah, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Herbst) Shirey, of Longswamp township. They reside at 235 North Tenth street, Allentown.
HENRY L. WASSER.
Henry L. Wasser, foreman of W. F. Mos- ser & Son Machine Shop, is a grandson of Jesse and Sallie (Weider) Wasser, who was a miller by trade and resided in Salisbury township, the greater part of his life. The latter part of his life he lived retired in Allentown. Franklin Wasser, son of Jesse and Sallie Wasser, was born in Salisbury township, April 16, 1838. At an early age he started to work in a foundry which work he followed nearly all his life, being in the employ of W. F. Mosser & Son, of Al- lentown for forty-four years, and was foreman of the plant for thirty years. When the war of the Rebellion broke out he enlisted on April 17, 1861 and was a member of Company I, First Penna. Vol. Infantry. When his term of en- listment had expired he re-enlisted and served in Company D, 128 Penn. Vol. Infantry, and was a sergeant in the same. On July 29, 1865, he was married to Leah Hower, a daughter of Peter and Carolina (Minnich) Hower. She was born in Rittersville, Pa., Nov. 7, 1842, and now resides on the old homestead, 334 North Second street, Allentown, with her daughter, Mary H. Wasser, who cares for her in her de- clining years. The following children were born to this family: George K., born Nov. 13, 1866. died Aug. 23, 1876; Mary H., born Jan. 25, 1876, at home with her mother ; Henry L., men- tioned below; Sallie C., born May 13, 1873, died Aug. 29, 1876; Elsie N., born July 23, 1874, married to Edward Martin, a wood-carver of Allentown. They have two children: Blanch and Frank; William W., born Sept. 30, 1876, a silk-weaver, married to Martha Poe. They have the following children: Frank, Calvin, John, Lewis, and Leah; Katie C., born Feb. 25, 1878, married to George Kruse, an electrician at Rittersville, Pa., and Blanche, born Aug. 10, 1886, died May 6, 1887.
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