History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 133

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 133

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Joseph Young was prominent and influential in public affairs in Allentown, and in 1838 be- came a charter member of the Humane Fire Com- pany. He took part in the first firemen's parade in Allentown, Aug. 26, 1843, with Mayor Strauss as chief marshal. A cold water fight in the busi- ness center of the city ended the day's sport. Hon. R. E. Wright, R. Strauss, and Joseph R. New- hard were also members of the company. In 1841- 42-43-44, Joseph Young was a member of the town council, Charles Seip and Peter Newhard being the burgesses. During the last two years of his incumbency he was chairman of the board. His political support was given to the Whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the new Republican party. He gave his time and means to its advancement. In 1856, he was a delegate to the Republican national convention which nominated John C. Fremont as its first candidate for the presidency, and in 1860 was again a delegate, and in the latter convention he had serious discussions with Simon Cameron be- cause of his stalwart championship of Abraham Lincoln. His life was ever actuated by honorable principles and noble purposes. In his youth he was confirmed in the Reformed Church, and upon his removal to Allentown, placed his mem- bership in Zion's Reformed church, of which he became an active and leading member, serving as deacon and as superintendent of the Sunday school. He labored earnestly for the advance- ment of the cause and the extension of its influence

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

until failing health necessitated his retirement from church work as well as other activities of life.

In 1834, Joseph Young was married to Hannah Blumer, a daughter of Henry Blumer, and a granddaughter of Rev. Abraham Blumer, who was pastor of Zion Reformed church, Allentown, during the Revolutionary War. Their only son, Colonel Edward Blumer Young, was born in Allentown, Sept. 6, 1836, and pursued his edu- cation in Allentown Seminary under the instruc- tion of Rev. Dr. Kessler. He was in his six- teenth year when he went to Bellefonte, Center county, Pennsylvania, and entered upon an ap- prenticeship at the watchmaker's trade, covering a term of nearly three years. He never followed that pursuit, however, but returned home to enter the hardware store of Barber, Young & Co., in the capacity of clerk. He thus served until 1860, when he was admitted to a partnership and entered upon a career as a merchant that was at once successful and honorable. In his business affairs he was straightforward, prompt and reli- able, and his enterprise and diligence were potent factors in the extension of the business, which became one of the leading mercantile interests in Allentown.

In citizenship Colonel Young was equally en- terprising and progressive, and gave earnest co- operation to every measure which he believed would contribute to the general good. He was called to various public offices, serving in early manhood as a member of the select council of Al- lentown from the Second ward. For a number of years he was the treasurer of the Columbia Fire Company, and took a deep interest and great pride in the development of the excellent fire department of Allentown. His patriotic spirit and loyal devotion to his country were aroused, and in 1862, when the rebel troops in- vaded Pennsylvania, he entered the service with the state militia. In June, 1863, upon the second invasion, he enlisted as first lieutenant of Com- pany H, 27th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teers. His regiment was subsequently mustered into the United States service and joined the Army of the Potomac at Waynesboro, participat- ing in the engagement at Wrightsville. The pub- lic service, however, which most endeared Colonel Young to his fellow townsmen was that he rend- ered them as mayor of Allentown. In the spring of 1876 he was nominated by the Republican party for the office of chief executive of the muni- cipality, and after a stubborn contest was elected by a majority of sixty-nine votes. He was filling the office during the memorable riots of 1877, and so conducted the affairs of the city that he won the highest commendation of all law-abiding peo-

ple. Bloodshed and riot occurred in other places, but Mayor Young, comprehending the gravity of the situation and realizing the responsibility which developed upon him, held the reins of govern- ment with firm hand, and maintained law and order, quelling the disturbing spirit that would have brought about scenes of violence. His ad- ministration is certainly one of the most notable in the history of Allentown. His influence in political circles, however, was not restricted to the city in which he made his home. He was re- cognized as one of the prominent Republicans of the state, and represented Lehigh county as a member of the State Central Committee. He was also chairman of the Republican county com- mittee for a number of years and was frequently the representative of his county in the state con- ventions. In 1876, he was a delegate to the Re- publican national convention at Cincinnati, Ohio, and he served as an aide-de-camp on the staffs of Governor Hartranft and Governor Hoyt. He was also appointed one of the prison inspectors of Lehigh county, and his services were characterized in that board by the same excellent qualities ever manifest in his business and administrative rela- tons. Political honors and emoluments, however, had little attraction for him, and he never sought office as a reward for party fealty, but gave his support to the principles which he believed con- tained the best elements of good government, working for his party because he believed it to be the duty as well as the privilege of every Ameri- can citizen to support his honest political con- victions. He was fearless in defense of what he believed, yet was never bitterly aggressive, and he won the highest respect of the opposition as well as the leaders of his own party.

The influence of Colonel Young was felt in equally strong measure in fraternal circules. He attained high rank in Masonry, holding member- ship in Barger Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Allen Chapter, No. 203, Royal Arch Masons ; Allen Council, No. 23, Royal and Select Masters ; Allen Commandery, No. 20, Knights Templar ; and Philadelphia Consistory, Sovereign Princes of the Royal Secret. He filled the highest office in each of the York Rite bodies, and was recognized as one of the best informed Masons in the tenets of the craft in the state. He was also an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and assisted in the organization of Post No. 87, Allen- town, which since his death has been named in his honor. He was its first commander, and at the time of his demise was serving as quarter- master. His opinions carried weight in the Penn- sylvania department. and he was at one time a member of the council of administration of the state and represented his post at many encamp-

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

ments. He gave freely of his means to the cause of Christianity, and although not a member, served as trustee of the Presbyterian Church.

Colonel Young died Dec. 30, 1879, in the forty- fourth year of his age. His personal characteris- tics, his unfailing honor in business, political and social relations, and his loyalty to his honest con- victons, endeared him to all with whom he was associated at the time of his death. He was sur- vived by his wife and three children: Annie E., Harry J., and Edward M. Mrs. Young bore the maiden name of Mary Ann Kuhns, and was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Peter and Elizabeth (Knerr) Kuhns, and the latter was a daughter of Andrew and Cath- erine Elizabeth (Schall) Knerr. Andrew Knerr and his brother John were the only sons of Ab- raham Knerr, who was born in Germany in 1714, and migrated to Lehigh Valley in 1748, taking up three hundred acres of land in Lowhill town- ship.

Edward Mark Young, only living son of Col- onel Edward B. and Mary A. Young, was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Sept. 24, 1866. Hav- ing acquired his early education in the public schools, he subsequently attended Muhlenberg College, until he had completed one-half the work of the junior year. He then entered upon his business career in the store of M. S. Young & Company, in order to become practically familiar with mercantile methods, and more especially that in use in the hardware trade. This business, with which his father was so long associated, and in which the family has been interested for more than sixty years, is successfully conducted at the present time (1914) by Edward M. Young and his partner, Wilson P. Ludwig. Mr. Young has extended his efforts to a number of other fields of labor. In November, 1897, he assisted in organ- izing the Lehigh Portland Cement Company, was for a period of years its secretary and treas- urer, and is now vice-president of this corporation. The twelve plants of this company have an an- nual capacity of over ten million barrels, and it is one of the largest companies in the world. For the past fifteen years Mr. Young has also been president of the Allentown Steam Heating and Power Company. He is a director in the Lehigh Valley Transit Company ; he took an active part in the re-organization of the old Lehigh Valley Traction Company, and was the first vice-presi- dent of the new company.

Like his father and grandfather, Edward Mark Young has been associated with the political, social and civic life of Allentown. During the six years from 1894 to 1900 he served as a mem- ber of the Board of Control of Education from the Second ward. In 1896 he was a delegate to

the Republican national convention which met at St. Louis and nominated Major William Mc- Kinley for the presidency of the United States. He was also a delegate to the Republican national convention of 1908 in which William Howard Taft was nominated for the office of president. He has served ten years as a member of the Re- publican state committee of Pennsylvania. Gov- ernor Tener appointed Mr. Young as a mem- ber of the commission charged with completing the buildings of the State Homeopathic Hospital for Insane, near Allentown, Pennsylvania, and he was subsequently appointed a member of the board of trustees of that institution. He is a trustee of the Allentown Hospital, of Muhlenberg College, at Allentown, of the Allentown College for Women, and of the Presbyterian Church. His social affiliations consist of membership in the fol- lowing organizations: The Union League, of Philadelphia, the Livingston Club, of Allentown, the Lehigh Country Club, the Independent Order of Elks, and Jordan Lodge, F. & A. M.

Mr. Young has served for a number of years as director of the Lehigh Valley Trust Company ; was for about two years its vice-president, and for the past six years has filled the position of president.

Mr. Young married, Jan. 27, 1891, Kate R., daughter of Samuel B. and Caroline ( Keck) Ane- walt, of Allentown, and they have had five chil- dren: Hannah M., married to J. Edward Dur- ham, Jr .; Robert A .; Joseph S .; Caroline ; and Edward M., Jr.

YOUNG FAMILY (CATASAUQUA.)

Daniel Young was a well digger in Maxatawny township, Berks county. He was married and among his children was a son, Benneville, who is now an extensive truck farmer in Hanover town- ship, Lehigh county, and is married to Elizabeth, daughter of Reuben Moyer, of Longswamp town- ship, Berks county, where he died at the age of 81 years, and is buried at the Longswamp church. Mr. and Mrs. Young have twelve children, among whom are: Remeda, married to Oliver Fritch, of Allentown; Mary; Annie; Jennie; Katie; Howard Oscar; and Harry R.

HARRY R. YOUNG, the manufacturer of "Young's Boiler Compound," at Catasauqua, was born Jan. 25, 1869, in Maxatawny township, Berks county. He was educated in the public schools and took a course in the Scranton Cor- respondence Schools in engineering. When he was a mere lad, he began picking gravel at the iron ore beds, and when fifteen years old he run an engine at the mines, a vocation he pursued up to 1888, when he became a master mechanic at the Bryden Horse Shoe Works, at Catasauqua,

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

which position he served until 1906, when he became the superintendent of the plant, which responsible position he held until 1908, when he engaged in the manufacture of his boiler com- pound, being associated in this business with Wil- liam J. McBride, of Catasauqua. Mr. Young, in the sale of his products, travels all over the eastern part of the United States, selling direct to the consumers.

He is identified with a number of fraternal societies. He is a member of the Knights of Malta; the P. O. S. of A .; treasurer for fifteen years of the Independent Order of Red Men, No. 204; the Haymakers; F. O. E .; and the Le- high Council, No. 15, Order American Steam Engineers, having been one of its organizers and also represented the organization in their annual meetings at Philadelphia.

Mr. Young was married to Miss Rosa A. Fehler, a daughter of George Fehler, whose his- tory appears in this volume. They are members of the First Presbterian church, Catasauqua.

GEORGE H. YOUNG.

George H. Young, proprietor of the White Duck Coat and Apron Supply Company, of Al- lentown, was born at Wilmington, Delaware, Feb. 7, 1890. His father, Clinton B. Young, resides at Philadelphia, where he is the foreman painter of the Pullman Car Company, by whom he has been employed for forty years. He was married to Mary Ewing, daughter of George and Catharine Ewing, of Philadelphia. They are the parents of three children: Ellen, married to John Wagner, resides at Glenside, Pa., agent for Southern Despatch; George H; and Clinton B., Jr., with the Vulcanite Portland Cement Com- pany, Philadelphia.

George H. Young received his education in the common schools and high schools of Philadelphia, the Central Manual Training School, of Philadel- phia. He was employed by the Pullman Car Company as assistant store-keeper, after which he filled the position of cashier with the Penn Laun- dry at Philadelphia for two and one-half years. In the fall of 1913 he embarked in business for himself at 224 North Seventh street, Allentown, later moving to 35 South Seventh street, where he is located at present. Mr. Young makes a specialty of loaning out white duck coats, aprons, and towels, charging his patrons only for laund- ering the same. The amount of business that has been worked up in the short time in which he is in business indicates the good work and prompt service which the company renders. Mr. Young is a member of the Episcopalian Church, and resides at 127 North Eighth street, Allen- town.

YOUNG FAMILY OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY.

Jacob Young, the ancestor of a large family, was a native of East Allen township, Northamp- ton county, Pa. He was born May 4, 1772, died Feb. 28, 1849, aged seventy-six years, nine months and twenty-four days. He was a farmer in Moore township and his large farm was situ- ated, at the Forks, above Bath. Connected with this property is a water right, which is still in the name of Jacob Young. The farm he sold in 1812, but he retained the water right, which apparently now belongs to his large posterity. In 1812 he removed on a 400-acre tract, which he had bought on account of the excellent water and fine oak timber upon it. There he built a saw-mill which he operated for many years. The land in later years he divided amongst some of his sons.

He was married to Elizabeth Seem, who hailed from one of the pioneer families of Northampton county. She was born Jan. 10, 1776, died June 22, 1857, aged eighty-one years, five months and twelve days. They were members of the Lu- theran church and are buried at the, Moores- town church graveyard. They had nine children, all sons, namely: Jacob, George, Abraham, Peter, William, Joseph, Charles, Christian, and Reuben.

Three of the above sons, George, Abraham and Christian, were married to three sisters, daugh- ters of the late Peter Steckel, a successful farmer, tanner and justice of the peace of Moore town- ship. It is related that the father of these sis- ters heartily approved of the first and second mar- riage, but when the third union was about to be consummated he became vexed and exclaimed, "this is too much Young in one family," and by no means would allow a fourth daughter to marry another brother of that family.

Christian Young, son of Jacob, was born Feb. 21, 1802, died Jan. 22, 1885, aged eighty- two years, eleven months and one day. He was a farmer and owned several large farms. By trade he was a cooper. He was a hunter and good fisherman. It is related that one day he went out hunting with his faithful dog and soon they found the tracks of a deer, which he shot, but the animal ran up along the mountain side, continually showing by its trail in the snow that it was becoming weaker from the loss of blood. The hunter followed the trail up across the mountain and down on the other side. Dark- ness had now set in, the snow was deep and the night was cold, but the hunter was bent to take along home to his waiting family, the game for which they had long hoped for. He found the deer, which proved to be a big fat buck. He dragged him up the mountain side, across the

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

top and down the mountain slope, reaching home in the early morning of the following day, being hungry and tired. His devoted and good helpmate greeted him at the door. That morn- ing the family feasted on venision for its break- fast.

Christian Young became a valuable citizen in his community, which he served in the school board for many years, and afterward he served as county commissioner. He and his wife, Lydia, a daughter of Peter Steckel, lie buried in the old Emmanuel church graveyard, near Petersville. She was born Nov. 22, 1800, died Feb. 15, 1886, aged eighty-six years, two months and twenty-three days. They had four children, namely: (1) Maria, married to John P. Deemer, a farmer of Moore township. (2) Charles, married to Christiana Heckman. He was a farmer in Moore township. (3) Elizabeth, was the wife of Dr. C. O. Yoch, a very able physi- cian, who lived in the upper end of the county. (4) William H.

William H. Young, son of Christian, and fa- ther of A. C. Young, was born Nov. 30, 1831, died at Allentown, on March 8, 1902. He was married to Sabina Siegel, a daughter of Simon and Eva (Freeman) Siegel. She was born in 1831, and died in 1906. They are buried in the Moorestown cemetery. They were pious people. Mr. Young was a member of the Lutheran and his wife of the Reformed Church. In the winter of 1855-56, they bought a farm situated in Moore township, from Christian Young; this they occupied in the spring of 1856, and with the exception of one year they lived upon it until in April, 1903, when they moved to No. 440 North Ninth street, Allentown, where Mr. Young died within that year. His wife followed him four years later. They reared the following children, namely: Asry C .; Henrietta, married to Peter Fehnel; Andrew J .; Sarah, married to Jacob, a brother of Peter Fehnel; Alvin; El- len J., and Asher W., who is an assistant to the manager in the John Wanamaker store in New York.

A. C. YOUNG, the efficient secretary and treasurer of the Bethlehem Trust Company, is a native of Moore township, Northampton county, and was born July 4, 1856. He attended the public school of his native place also the Keystone State Normal School, from which he graduated in 1876 with honor, being the young- est male member in the class. He was then a teacher in the latter named school for six months, and taught one term in the Moore township schools. He was teacher of the Siegfried school for three years. He then embarked in the mercan-

tile business at Cross Roads, with J. H. Scholl, his brother-in-law; there he continued for two and one-half years. From 1883 to 1890, he con- ducted a general store, at Pen Argyl. During that time he opened and developed the Excel- sior slate quarry of Northampton county, and was secretary and treasurer for about five. years. In 1890 he disposed of his interests in the Excel- sior Slate Quarry to William Masters, after a successful career in that industry. In 1890 also sold his general store to his brother, Andrew J. Young, which was the leading store in the town. He then organized the First National Bank, at Pen Argyl, Pa., of which he was cashier until 1904. The bank had a capitalization of $50,000, which was increased in 1900 to $100,000. At the time Mr. Young resigned as cashier the stock sold at seventy dollars above its par value. He has been a member of the board of directors since its organization to the present time, one- fourth century. This bank is one of the strong- est financial institutions in the slate region. In 1904 he was induced by a group of Philadelphia capitalists, to organize what is now the Frank- lin Trust Company, of that city. He was its treasurer for two years. During the later period he formulated plans for organizing the Bethle- hem Trust Company, which was accomplished in 1906, of which institution he is the secretary and treasurer as well as its moving spirit. This bank- ing house is now about seven years old, but its stock is selling at sixty dollars above par.

He assisted in the organization of the follow- ing named companies, viz: the Penn Argyl Water Company, of which he is trustee for the first bond issue; the Pen Argyl Electric Light and Power Company, being its first treasurer ; the Pen Argyl shirt factory, of which he was its first treasurer; the Klecknersville Dairy- men's Association, of which he was its first presi- dent and which has proven to be a great success .. and uplift to the farmers of that section. He was instrumental in having the Lehigh and New England car shops located at Pen Argyl by raising $5,000 as a premium to the company ; and later, also the shops of the Pennsylvania, Pough- keepsie and Boston Railroad Company. He holds membership in the following named organiza- tions : Pen Argyl Lodge, No. 594, F. & A. M., of which he was a charter member and its first secretary ; Bangor Chapter, No. 292; Bethlehem Council, No. 3; and Bethlehem Commandery, No. 90, K. T., also the B. P. O. E. They were former members of the St. John's Lutheran church, at Pen Argyl. He and his family now hold membership in the Trinity Lutheran church. West Side, Bethlehem.

He was a councilman of Pen Argyl for two

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

terms, was secretary and treasurer of Pen Argyl borough and a member of the school board.

Mr. Young was instrumental in the removal of the Bethlehem Trust Company, from the West Side, Lehigh county, to the northwest corner of Broad and Main streets, Northampton county. There the board of directors had erected one of the finest banking rooms in eastern Penn- sylvania. The cost of the entire bank building amounted to $128,000, and was erected according to the plans of Mr. A. C. Young, its secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Young is fathering a movement at the present time for the erection of a $25,000 Me- morial Home for the Aged and Infirm, at Heck- town, Pa.

A. C. Young was married, in 1880, to Miss Ellen C. Scholl, daughter of the late James and Catharine (Lawfer) Scholl. They have the following children: (1) Amy May, a graduate of the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music and also of the University of Berlin, Germany. She earned and holds the title of Doctor of Music. In 1913 she was elected to the position of Direc- tor of music in the Broaddus College, at Phil- lipi, W. Va. (2) Carrie A., a graduate of the Pen Argyl high school, and Pierce Business College, at Philadelphia. She held an important position with the Bethlehem Steel Company for six years, when she was married to Lewis C. Haas, an assistant to one of the department heads of the Bethlehem Steel Company. (3) Robert J., a graduate of the Philadelphia grammar school, the Bethlehem Preparatory School, and completed a course in chemical engineering at the Lehigh University. He was employed for a time with the Taylor Steel & Iron Company, at High Bridge, N. J., as a chemist and metallurgist. He was superintendent of the Latrobe Steel Com- pany, at Latrobe, Pa., until in 1914. He is mar- ried to Emily I. Wescoe.

Mr. Haas and Robert J. Young are also mem- bers of the Masonic Fraternity.

A. C. Young during his years of experience as a banker has the distinction of having educated and trained the following four gentlemen, who are now cashiers of different institutions: A. E. Frantz, for nine years a bookkeeper in the First National Bank, at Pen Argyl, is now the cashier of Second National Bank, at Nazareth; W. H. Oyler, bookkeeper and teller at the First Na- tional Bank, at Pen Argyl, is now the cashier of the Pen Argyl National Bank, at Pen Argyl; Thomas Hewitt, bookkeeper and teller in the bank at Pen Argyl, succeeded Mr. Young as cashier in that institution; C. A. Harris, who succeeded Mr. Young as treasurer of the Frank- lin Trust Company, of Philadelphia ; as well as

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 133

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