History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 126

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 126

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

OLIVER WILLIAMS.

David Williams, a native of South Wales, England, acquired a national reputation by his letters from Mexico and the United States, pub- lished in 1829. In 1833 the family emigrated to this country, settling at Schenectady, N. Y.,

where they remained until 1840, when they re- moved to Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. Here Mr. Williams held an important position with the then newly-organized Lehigh Crane Iron Works. He died early in 1845, leaving a son. Oliver Williams.

Oliver Williams was born in South Wales, April 23, 1831, and was brought to America by his parents in 1833. He received such education as was afforded by the country schools, and for one year he attended the Allentown Academy, and for the same period of time he attended the Moravian school at Bethlehem, Pa. He learned the trade of moulder in the foundry connected with the Crane furnaces at Catasauqua, follow- ing the trade until 1849, when he went to Phil- adelphia, entering the optical establishment of McAllister & Co., where he remained until 1853, when he joined James Queen, forming the firm of Queen & Co.

In 1855, Mr. Williams took Horace Greeley's advice to go West, settling in Milwaukee, where for a period of three months he and Chester A. Arthur, then a young lawyer, who had also gone West, roomed together. Mr. Arthur's metropolitan tastes did not take kindly to the West, and he returned to New York City, where Mr. Williams visited him at the old Bancroft House. While there he met Peter F. L. Hard- enburg with whom he formed a partnership in the leather business, locating in Chicago in 1858. Mr. Williams remained in Chicago un- til 1867, when he removed to Catasauqua, to be- come the general manager of the newly organ- ized Catasauqua Manufacturing Company. Mr. Williams was with the Catasauqua Manufactur- ing Company as general manager from 1867 to 1879, and from 1879 to 1892 as its president. He saw it begin in a small way and grow to be one of the best known and largest merchant mills in Eastern Pennsylvania. In 1892 he resigned from the Catasauqua Manufacturing Company, giving all his attention to the Bryden Horse Shoe Company, which was organized in 1882.

Mr. Williams took an active part in having the works established in Catasauqua. He was connected with it from the beginning, and served it as treasurer and general manager until 1899 and as president and treasurer from then until his death. He had devoted himself to its suc- cessful establishment as one of the largest horse- shoe manufacturing concerns in the country. At the time of his death, Mr. Williams, was the president of the Cement National Bank, at Siegfried, Pa., vice-president of the Whitehall Portland Cement Company, Cementon, Pa., and a director of the E. P. Wilbur Trust Company, South Bethlehem, Pa.

1410

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

For three years Mr. Williams was the presi- dent of the National Iron Association and for fifteen years president of the Eastern Iron As- sociation. He had a wide acquaintance among iron manufacturers throughout the country, and his genial disposition and ready wit made him hosts of friends. He was a Republican in poli- tics, being his party's candidate for congress in 1896, in a district normally good for 10,000 Democratic majority but was defeated by about 1,700.

It was during this campaign that the publisher of the Reading Eagle wrote to Mr. Williams, re- questing his picture for publication. In send- ing the picture, Mr. Williams wrote:

""I mail in response to your wish a recent photograph. If Job lived in these days, he would not need to wish, "Oh that mine adversary would write a book." A surer plan to down him would be to have his photo in the daily papers. I fear this will lose me votes. Truly yours, Oliver Williams."

He was formerly a Presbyterian, but at Cata- sauqua he took a deep interest in the Lutheran Church, being thrice sent as a delegate to the General Council, where he proved himself a warm friend of the mission cause. He was an active church worker for many years, being con- nected with the Trinity Lutheran church, of Catasauqua, of whose Sunday school he was superintendent for many years.

Surely, in this centenary history of Lehigh county, which narrates the story of its remark- able development, Mr. Oliver Williams deserves special recognition, who directly and indirectly contributed so much to its life and development. But his influence extended far beyond the con- fines of the county in which he lived. No one in the great commercial Lehigh valley enjoyed a larger acquaintance with public men and shared their confidence than the subject of our sketch. Again and again was he called to Washington, the nation's capitol, to appear before the finance committee of the house, when questions concern- ing iron industry were under consideration and the experience of practical men was desired. Mr. Williams was a fluent speaker, full of ready wit and quick in repartee which together with ex- tensive travel and vividness of description made him the happy center of many a social hour. His versatility of mind is shown in the wide range of his literary efforts which range from a learned critique on music to a comprehensive article on pig iron, as well from being the superintendent of a Sunday school, a teacher of a Bible class to directing vast business enterprises. Though sleeping, having passed beyond the great divide, his influences are still with us in the church he

served, the industries he directed, and his de- scendants who share in their father's genial dis- position and charm of personality and business acumen.

Mr. Williams was married in October, 1857, in Germantown, Pa., to Miss Anna Heilig. They had two sons and four daughters, as follows: Mrs. David L. Emanuel; Mrs. R. O. Kohler ; and Mrs. George E. Holton, all of Catasauqua, Pa. The two sons died in infancy, and a daugh- ter died at the age of twelve years.

He died in his fine home at Catasauqua, on Sept. 17, 1904.

JOHN WILLIAMS.

The subject of this sketch was a native of Landore, Wales, and was born November 20, 1824. When but a little over eight years of age he was brought to America by his parents and located at Schenectady, N. Y. At the age of fourteen he entered the employ of John Fullagar of that city, as a clerk. In 1845 he followed the rest of the family, who were then living at Cata- sauqua, and at once entered the office of the Crane Iron Company. His first duty was to weigh the ore and limestone that was hauled hither by team, to feed three furnaces. Those were busy days, for team was followed by team all day long. In 1849 he was promoted to the position of assistant cashier ; and, after the death of Owen Rice, he was promoted in 1856 to the office of cashier. He performed the duties of this office with signal fidelity throughout the remain- der of his life.

Mr. Williams was actively connected with many local enterprises. He participated in the organization of the Catasauqua Manufacturing Company in which he held office until his decease. He served as passenger agent for the C. & F. R. R. Company for many years, and was director and later president of the Catasauqua Gas Com- pany. He was a director and at the time of his death vice-president of the National Bank of Catasauqua. He was also a director in the Le- high Valley Trust and Safe Deposit Company of Allentown, and president of the Farmers' Fire Insurance Company of Upper and Lower Saucon townships, and president of the Fairview Ceme- tery Association. Since man's acts are more elo- quent than his words, it is but necessary to point to the many associations in which his counsel and encouragements were sought to show the shrewd and pleasing character of the man, and his earnest endeavor to promote the welfare of his fellow townsmen.

She, whom he led to the bridal altar, Septem- ber 14, 1852, was Emma Caroline Heilig, daugh- ter of Rev. George Heilig, a Lutheran clergy-

14II

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

man. Her mother's maiden name was Susannah Hook. They began housekeeping on Church street in one of the company homes. Mrs. Wil- liams repeatedly declared the happiest period of her life was the season of her housekeeping on Church street. For a while the family lived in Fuller's Block. After David Thomas left the "Mansion" on Front street, John Williams and family occupied it. During 1870 he erected the beautiful home on Bridge street which he occu- pied until his death, May 24, 1892, and his widow after him, until her death, September 29, 1913. The hospitality of the Williams home was

JOHN WILLIAMS.

as genuine as its surroundings, which being adorned with palms, ferns and many rare plants, were beautiful and inviting. The fruits of this union were eight children, four of whom sur- vive: Lizzie S., Mrs. Frank M. Horn, Annie, Mrs. Edward D. Boyer, and Messrs. John T. and George H. Williams.

In 1852 Mr. and Mrs. Williams took up their membership in the First Presbyterian church, in which he was elected an elder in 1872, and he served his people as superintendent of the Sunday school for many years-until his death. With an intermission of one year he served the borough as burgess from 1861 to 1873.

EDWARD H. WILLIAMS.

Edward Hall Williams, the superintendent of the Hokendauqua Furnace of the Thomas Iron Company, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Aug. 21, 1871. He received his early training in the public schools of Marquette, Mich., Man- ual Training Department of Washington Uni-

versity, St. Louis, Mo., and the Case School of Applied Science at Cleveland, Ohio. In 1892 he received the degree of B. S. in mining en- gineering. After graduation he accepted the position of chemist with the Brown & Bonnell Iron Co., of Youngstown, Ohio, and was made superintendent of their furnaces in 1894, in which capacity he continued until in 1899, when he became the manager of the blast furnaces owned by Ricklands, Mather & Co., located near Sharon, Pa., and at Toledo, Ohio. In 1906 he organized the Perry Iron Co., and built and put into operation their blast furnace at Erie, Pa., and continued with the company until in Aug. 15, 1910, when he accepted his present position. He resides in the beautiful Thomas residence at Hokendauqua. In 1895 he was married to Effie Reel, a daughter of David and Emma (McKee) Reel of Youngstown, Ohio, and is the father of two sons, Edward Reel and David Rayson. Mr. Williams is a member of several college fraternities, the American Insti- tute of Mining Engineers, the National Geo- graphic Society, Duquesne Club of Pittsburgh and the Lehigh Country Club.

Edward Payon Williams, the father of Wil- liam Hall, was born in 1838, and came from the Williams family of Connecticut, one of the old- est families of New England. He was early em- ployed by the Erie R. R. Co., as assistant to his uncle, who was the first station agent for the company at Elmira, New York, when the sta- tion was the terminus of the road. Later he went with his brother, James N. Williams, to Savannah, Georgia, where they engaged in the express and telegraph business. At the outbreak of the Civil War he came to New York as a "stowaway" on one of the last vessels to leave Charlestown, S. C., after the firing of Fort Sumpter. After landing at New York he im- mediately proceeded to Philadelphia and enlisted in the famous 15th Penna. Cavalry, under the late General Wm. H. Palmer, and served through the entire war. His brother, James N. Williams, cast his lot with the South, entered the army, served with distinction throughout the war and at its close was mustered out as a Col- onel.

After the war Mr. Williams engaged in the iron business at Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1870 went to the Lake Superior regions and engaged there in mining with the Hon. Samuel J. Til- den and Peter White, the pioneer of the Su- perior Lake iron mining. Subsequently he has been engaged in the iron business in the middle west. He is at present officer, manager and auditor for Rickands, Mather & Co., at Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Williams is a member of

VOL. III-41

le h e

ve of [ 20, If age and e of agar the ata the to led se

nd his #: genial de & business

er. 18:1 Vig. The follows Kohler asauqua daugh-

qua, on

1412

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

several prominent military and social organiza- tions of his state. He is married to Caroline Hall, a daughter of James R. and Mary (Lloyd) Hall, of Painesville, Ohio. This union was blessed with two children, Edward H. and Agnes, the wife of Marion L. Mozier, of Erie, Pa.

JOHN J. WILLIAMS.

John J. Williams, agent and dispatcher for the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad, was born at Catasauqua, July 10, 1865. He is a son of David R. Williams, a native of Wales. Both he and his wife, Elisabeth, nee James, were born in Glamorganshire, Wales, he May 24, 1843, and she May 12, 1846. She died Oct. 5, 1900, and lies buried in Fairview Cemetery, Catasau- qua. David R. Williams came to Catasauqua from Wales in 1860 when the great Civil War was brewing, and when the call came for volun- teers he immediately offered his services to his newly adopted country and enlisted under Cap- tain Hunt for three months service. After serv- ing the period of his enlistment he was honorably discharged and returned to Catasauqua. He was first employed at the Crane Iron Works, but subsequently entered into the employ of the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railway, and con- tinued with them for a period of 35 years. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church Catasauqua. In politics he is a Republican.

John J. Williams, son of David R., received his education in the schools of Whitehall town- ship and the Catasauqua High School. He learned the art of telegraphy with the L. V. R. R., after which he was employed as clerk by the Catasauqua Manufacturing Co. After a period of three years he returned to the L. V. R. R., but soon left them again and went over to the P. & R. Railway, which controlled the C. & F. road, and has been in their employ con- tinuously since Sept. 1894. In politics, like his father, he is a Republican. In the fall of 1911 he was elected as one of the seven school con- trollers of Catasauqua, and upon their organiza- tion was elected its secretary. Mr. Williams has been actively interested in the various build- ing and loan associations since 1888 and has con- sistently recommended them as a means of en- couraging thrift and at the same time building up the community. For a number of years he has served as a director in the Home Building Association, but was also likewise interested in two other associations, all three of which are very successful. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church and also of Lodge No. 284, F. & A. M.

In 1909 he was married to Mary Williams, a daughter of Lewis and Elisabeth Williams.

She was born in Glamorganshire, Wales, the native town of both her parents. Her father was born Feb. 15, 1827, and died Feb. 21, 1901, and her mother was born June 9, 1829, and died June 22, 1897. Both lie buried in Fair- view Cemetery, Catasauqua.

WILLIAM B. WILLIAMS.

William B. Williams, an aged resident of Emerald, Lehigh county, was born on the Isle of Anglesey, in North Wales, October 28, 1835. At a suitable age he learned the stone cutting trade and this he followed until he came to the United States. On the way he was shipwrecked along the Atlantic coast on December 19, 1856, and the following day he was brought to shore by a life-boat near Atlantic City, N. J. Through the shipwreck he lost all his valuables, except a few pounds of English money, which he had in his pocket. On December 21 he and his com- panion, John L. Jones (who was saved with him) travelled along the shore northward un- til weary and hungry, they finally reached the town of Freeland, N. J. These were trying times in the lives of these forebears. From the latter place they were taken by train to South Amboy, and by steamboat thence to New York City, arriving a few hours before Christmas Day. In February, 1857, he went to Slatington and here he has lived until now.

In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. K, 176th Regt. Pa. Vol. Infantry and served ten months. In 1868 he built the "Franklin House" at Em- erald, and this hotel he conducted for forty years. He is now the oldest resident at Em- erald, formerly known as Franklin.

He is a member of Samuel Kress Post, No. 284, G. A. R., of Slatington, which he served as chaplain for some years, and in 1910 he was a delegate to the State Encampment which met at Harrisburg.

Mr. Williams followed the stone cutting trade and the monument business for a number of years in connection with the hotel business, giv- ing employment to five men.

He married Mary Ann Jones, who was born at the Lehigh Furnace, Lehigh county, July 9, 1847. She speaks both the Pennsylvania Ger- man and the Welsh languages fluently and cor- rectly. They are members of the Welsh Epis- copalian church. They have ten children : Robert, Margaret R., Mary Jane (married John M. Pritchard, and died aged forty years, sur- vived by eight children), Ellen, Frank (of Slat- ington, who has two children, Daniel and Flor- ence), Emma (married Robert H. Parry and had seven children), Jemima, Roger (of Slat-

1413

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

ington), Ellen and Annie, all of whom are de- ceased excepting Frank and Roger.

The father of Mrs. William B. Williams, was Griffith Jones, of Caernarvonshire, in North Wales, who emigrated to the United States in 1845, and he was the first man to make slate at Slatington, Pa., where he was a pioneer in that occupation. He went alone but a year later his wife and four children followed him, ac- companied by a number of their fellow country- men, all settled at Slatington. Amongst them were: Morris Williams and wife; Owen Jones, wife and children; John Jones, single; Griffith Jones, wife and ten children (Ellis, Evan, Mary, John, Mary, Ellis, Evan, Griffith, Margaret and Michael). Five of these children died.

Robert Williams, the father of William B., was a shoemaker. His wife was Ruth Broad- head, a daughter of Francis Broadhead, an Eng- lishman. She died about 1849 and he about 1852. They had seven children: Jemima, Wil- liam B., Robert, Hugh, Joseph, Thomas and John. Hugh had emigrated to America about 1860, but four years later returned to his native country owing to ill-health.

WILLIAM H. WILLIAMS.

Henry Williams, a pioneer in the slate busi- ness at Slatington, was born in Wales on Dec. 21, 1818. When twenty years old he emigrated to the United States and first settled in Massa- chusetts, where he remained seven weeks but not favorably impressed with that section of the country he went to Slateport, in Lehigh County where he secured an interest in a slate quarry several miles from Slatington on property now known as the Williamstown and Franklin quarries. Subsequently he was associated with David Williams (a fellow countryman, but no relative), in the slate business for many years, and they accomplished a great deal towards the development of the slate industry in the upper section of Lehigh county, which has come to give employment to upwards of five thousand people, and the slate workers in appreciation of their enterprise in the business named a settlement in Washington township after them, which is known as Williamstown.

He also carried on a store business at that place.

By his education and religious training Mr. Williams was always inclined to encourage the moral welfare of that community and he ac- cordingly made liberal contributions toward the establishment of the Baptist congregation and the erection of its church.

Mr. Williams was married in Wales, to Laura Evans (born in 1816, died in 1871), and

they had six children: Two of them died in infancy before their emigration, and the other four were named William H .; Catharine (mar- ried William T. Owens) ; Mary W. (married John W. Jones) ; and Ellen J. (married Evan J. Williams) ; all of them having died except- ing Mary W. He died March 28, 1878.

WILLIAM H. WILLIAMS, only son of Henry, was born Nov. 2, 1846, at Slateport, and there became a slate-worker in his father's operations in the vicinity of Williamstown, and he after- ward engaged in the mercantile business until he died. During his active business career he gave employment to a large number of work- ing people and contributed a great deal towards the public welfare. His untimely death was mourned as a great public loss, for he had led an exemplary life and was esteemed as a useful citizen in various ways .. In 1887 he erected a fine home on a large lot at Slatington not far from the river. There his widow has con- tinued to reside. He was affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Friendship, and the Order of Red Men.

In 1884, Mr. Williams was married to Sarah A. Houseman, a daughter of Jonas and Eliza- beth (Kern) Houseman and they had ten chil- dren: Laura, Irwin and Robert (who have died ) ; John; Henry; Emma (married Robert Lynn) ; Lizzie (married James Hogan, at Bal- timore) ; Annie (married Jacob Dorsheimer) ; and two died in infancy. He and his family were members of the Baptist Church. He died Sept. 10, 1898.

EDWARD O. WILLIAMS.

Owen J. Williams, a native of Caernarvon- shire, in North Wales, was born Jan. 10, 1847. He emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1889 and lo- cated in the vicinity of Slatington, where he was employed in slate quarries until he died Sept. 29, 1905. He was married to Jane O. Jones, a native of the same place, daughter of Edward and Hannah (Jones) Jones, and they had seven children: John; Owen O .; Edward O .; Eliza- beth, married Blanry Noll, of Palmerton; Mar- tha, married Alfred Kreiss, of Philadelphia ; Jane, married Wm. Davis, of Slatington, and Annie.

Owen O., the second son, was born in North Wales, June 1, 1875, emigrated with his parents, and was employed in slate quarries until 1896, when he engaged in the business of selling coffee. After following it two years he embarked in the general store business and has carried it on since. In 1903 he was married to Ruth Lloyd and they have two children: Lloyd Ivor and Adele.

Edward O. Williams, the third son of Owen

und ur-

f le

the ther

1414

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

J., was also born in North Wales, May 17, 1877, and accompanied his parents to Slatington. He also worked in slate quarries from an early age until 1898, then acted as a salesman in a general store at Slatington for seven years. In 1906 he became a traveling salesman for the Carbon Slate Company in the eastern part of the United States and served this position until Feb. 1, 1911, when he became identified with the Griffith Bros. Slate Company, as a partner and has continued a partner until now, acting as the traveling sales- man. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and a special correspondent of the Welsh Mirror, a weekly publication, issued at Utica, N. Y. He served on the board of health for five years.

On Aug. 29, 1906, Mr. Williams married Emma Long, daughter of George and Abbie (William) Long, and they have one child, a son, named Vincent G. They are members of the Welsh Presbyterian church, which he has served as deacon for the past five years, and also as secre- tary of the vestry. He has acted as a teacher and superintendent of its Sunday school for many years.

EVAN M. WILLIAMS.

Evan M. Williams, the oldest male resident of Slatington, was born in North Wales, Dec. 25, 1825. He there learned the slate industry and upon emigrating to Pennsylvania in 1847, he followed the same employment at Slating- ton until he retired, altogether a period of sev- enty-five years. He worked for the Lehigh Slate Company for a number of years as a slate-splitter, then filled the position of its super- intendent for twelve years; afterward foreman of the Blue Mt. quarry. From a small beginning with only several hands he saw the great industry develop until many slate operations came to be carried on at the same time, employing many thousand hands. He has been a Republican in politics, and served in the town council for two terms.

In 1853, Mr. Williams was married to Eliza- beth Long, of Stroudsburg, Pa., a daughter of Anthony Long. She was born in 1835, and died in 1891. They had two children: Miriam and Effie, both of whom died. They were members of the Welsh Presbyterian church, which he served as an elder for many years. He assisted in the erection of the building and acted as the leader of the church choir for fifteen years.

JESSE WILLIAMS.

Jesse Williams, engineer at Allentown since 1901, was born June 20, 1851, at Tannersville, in Monroe county, Pa., and received his educa- tion in the public schools until he became fifteen

years of age; then he entered the tannery of Stephen A. Kistler and continued there four years. Afterward he followed engineering at different tanneries in Monroe county until 1901. He then removed to Allentown, and here he continued in the same employment with the Allentown Flint Bottle Works, Hess Bros. and Wm. A. Hausman Brick Works until 1913, when he became the chief engineer of the estab- lishment of T. J. Dunn & Co. and this posi- tion he has since filled in a satisfactory manner. In politics he is a Republican, and he is a mem- ber of Lehigh Council, No. 15, American Order of Steam Engineers.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 126

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