History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 21

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 21

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Gruss Very Surfifuly Pavia Mattina

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

inent ones among them being the McDowell (now the Girard), the Brooklyn and the Mead- ow Brook. In company with other enterprising business men he purchased the large farm now known as the "Kern Farm Slate Property," on which six large quarries have been opened under lease and are now among the most profitable quarries in the Lehigh slate region.

In his early manhood he was imbued with the cause of anti-slavery, and as a young man he took an active interest in the campaign of Salmon P. Chase for the governorship of Ohio, in 1855.

Upon his arrival in Pennsylvania, in 1856, he became a warm enthusiast of the principles of the Republican party, which made its first presiden- tial nomination in that year, and he has ever since been an energetic and loyal adherent of that party. He has been the recipient of many politi- cal honors. For many years he was a member of the county executive committee, and served a number of times as chairman of the county con- ventions; was a delegate to the state convention, at Lancaster, which nominated General John F. Hartranft for governor, and also a delegate to the Harrisburg convention which nominated Henry M. Hoyt. He has always been prominent in political circles in the northern part of the county. His judgment carried weight in the councils of his party, and he commanded the re- spect of his political opponents. His political en- thusiasm from his boyhood days to the time of his death had been one of his marked characteristics. He was appointed a notary public by Governor Hartranft, and had filled that office up to the time of his death. He was nominated for as- semblyman and afterwards for state senator, but, his party in the county being largely in the mi- nority, he was not elected.

In public affairs in his own town, Mr. Mc- Kenna was prominent and influential, one of the active. progressive, and liberal citizens, and was ever ready to do all he could to further its ad- vancement. He serve on the school board for up- wards of twenty-five years, and was its president for fifteen years. He was nominated for chief burgess one year, but declined to accept. He was also a member of the Slatington board of trade.

He was an active and prominent Mason, and took a great interest in the fraternity, belonging to Slatington Lodge, No. 440, F. and A. M., hav- ing served as worshipful master for two terms; a member of Allen Chapter, No. 203, R. A. M .; Allen Council, No. 23, R. and S. M .; Allen Commandery, No. 20, K. T., of Allentown; and Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Reading, Pa. He was also a member of the Scotch-Irish Society of America, and was deeply interested in their history.

He had always been closely identified with the Presbyterian church of Slatington, having served as one of its elders and as superintendent of the Sabbath school for over twenty-five years; rep- resented the Presbytery of Lehigh in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, at Omaha, in 1887, and was a delegate to the Synod of Pennsylvania, held at Wheeling, in 1890.

In 1865 David McKenna was united in mar- riage to Rebecca Augusta McDowell, a daughter of Robert and Sarah E. (Mulholland) McDow- ell, who were at one time residents of the old Irish Settlement, near Bath, in Northampton county, where Mrs. McDowell's grandparents settled in 1743, but later took up their abode in Slatington. Mrs. McKenna was educated by a governess in her own home, and in Dow's Fe- male Seminary, at Easton, Pa., afterwards moved to Plainfield, N. J., where she graduated in 1858. Early in life she displayed great musical talent, and through its cultivation became very proficient in that art. She is a most earnest and active Presbyterian who has identified herself promi- nently with church work.

The children born to David and Rebecca Mc- Kenna were: Sarah Agnes, Helen Augusta, Phoebe Bergen, and Stella Almira. The eldest daughter, Sarah, became the wife of Franklin Prince, of Philadelphia, in 1890, by whom she had a daughter, Marguerite McKenna.

Mr. Prince died in 1893, and his widow mar- ried Rev. Julius W. Brockway, of Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1901; one son was born to them who bears the name of David McKenna. Helen Au- gusta died in 1870, and Phœbe Bergen died in 1890. Stella Almira, the youngest, married James Craig, of Philadelphia, in 1906. Mr. Craig died in 1913. His widow lives at home with her mother, Mrs. David McKenna.

WILLIAM COOK MCKEE.

Among the men who have recently come into the county, and who are a part of its life and trade, none occupies a higher position of trust and honor than William Cook McKee, the general superintendent of the Thomas Iron Company. He was born at Mt. Vernon, Rock Castle county, Kentucky, Oct. 26, 1878. He is a son of Wil- liam and Adelade ( Hoard) McKee, a physician, now residing at Eustis, Florida. Their children were: Joseph H., who died, aged 29 years. He was a professor of mathematics; Lulu, married to Charles Radall, both deceased; William C .; John, superintendent of the Hoffman House service at New York City.

Mr. McKee was educated in the common schools and Ohio State University in which he a practical course before going to college. In

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1904 he entered into the employ of the Algoner Steel Co., in the blast furnace department. Later he was employed by the Columbus Iron and Steel Company, at Columbus, Ohio. From here he went to the Indiana Harbor, Ind., as assistant superintendent of the blast furnace, which posi- tion he filled for one and one-half years, when he was in September, 1911, promoted to superin- tendent which he continued until September, 1913, when he was made general superintendent of the Thomas Iron Co. He has charge of all their plants and employs about 800 men. His coming as superintendent has put life into this once powerful industry of which he himself is a stockholder.

Mr. McKee is a member of the American In- stitute of Mining Engineers, National Geograph- ical Society, Lehigh Country Club, Catasauqua Club, and B. of P. E.

ROBERT MCKEEVER.

Robert Mckeever, master mechanic and chief engineer for the Thomas Iron Company, at Al- burtis, was born at Hokendauqua, Sept. 18, 1856. His father, Oliver Mckeever, was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and came to this coun- try as a young man, landing at Baltimore. From Baltimore he came to Hokendauqua and entered into the employ of the Thomas Iron Company, where he met his death in 1868. He was cinder foreman and had charge of all the teams of the company. He was married to Esther Polleck, who died in 1910, and whose remains and those of her husband, repose on the Fairview cemetery, Catasauqua. To them were born the following children: John, deceased, was a machinist for the Thomas Iron Company; Ellen, married to George Williams, of Hokendauqua; Robert; Sara, deceased; Isaac, master mechanic in the employ of the Erie R. R. at Newbury, N. Y .; Oliver, of Catasauqua, a machinist in the employ of the Atlas Cement Co .; William, a master mechanic also in the employ of the Atlas Cement Co .; and two children, who died in infancy.

Robert Mckeever was educated in the public schools and at the age of twelve entered the ma- chine shop of the Thomas Iron Company. He ran a shift engine for a short period but soon re- turned to the machine shop. In 1879 he was transferred to the Lock Ridge furnace, as mas- ter mechanic and chief engineer which position he still occupies to-day, having under his direction upward of twenty men. He has been in the em- ploy of the Thomas Iron Company for almost half a century. A silent tribute to faithfulness to trust and efficiency in service. On Nov. 8, 1877 he was married to Emma E. Kurtz, a daughter of Audred and Matilda Kurtz, of Cat-

asauqua. To them were born the following chil- dren: Edith, married to Charles Schlicher and resides at New Castle, Pa. They have one son, Franklin Robert; Robert, deceased; David, de- ceased; John, deceased ; Esther, at home; Har- old, deceased Walter, at home Emma and Isaac, deceased. Their children are buried at the Fair- view cemetery, Catasauqua. Mr. Mckeever is an elder in the Lock Ridge Memorial Presby- terian church, of which he formerly was a trus- tee. In politics he is a Republican. Socially he holds membership in the Knights of Malta and the I. O. O. F.

MECHLING FAMILY.

The ship James Goodwill, sailing from Rot- terdam, Holland, with David Crocket as master, stopped at the port of Deal, England, and left there on June 15, 1728. On Sept. 11, 1728, she arrived at Philadelphia with about ninety natives of the Palatinate on board, among whom were Theobald (or Dewald) Mechling, the founder of the Lehigh county Mechling family, and his brother, Jacob. They settled in Germantown and carried on a tannery.

In 1734 Theobald Mechling obtained a grant of 170 acres in Lower Milford township, North- ampton county (now Lehigh) from Thomas and Richard Penn, the proprietors of the Province of Pennsylvania. This parchment is in the posses- sion of the present owner of the homestead. Theobald Mechling moved his family to Lehigh county and built a house which is still standing on the property near Hosensack. Additional war- rants for II acres on April 29, 1747, and 25 acres on Oct. 6, 1757, increased his holdings. He was one of the founders of the old Lutheran church near Dillingersville, and in 1756, 1757, 1758 and 1759 gave fifteen shillings towards the pastor's salary, which made him one of the three largest contributors. He died in April, 1765, and was buried with his wife, Anna Elizabeth, in the old graveyard near Dillingersville, which is still preserved although the church itself no longer stands. He had five sons and two daugh- ters, all of the sons, except the youngest, Thomas, moved to Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, where they established a second Mechling line, and were the forefathers of the large number of Mechlings living in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio, with a "Mechling Family Association" of over two thousand members.

The children of Theobald Mechling and his wife, Anna Elizabeth were:

John Theobald, married Sybilla.

John Peter. He was confirmed in 1751 and Oct. 21, 1760, married Anna Barbara Kurr, daughter of Thomas Kurr, of Tulpehocken

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township. He died before Theobald, his father, as is stated in the release of the farm to Thomas.

Anna Margaret, born April 27, 1744.

John Jacob, born Feb. 28, 1747, married Katharine.

Philip, married Katharine.

Thomas, born Aug. 4, 1751, married Kath- arine Welsh.

Anna Elizabeth, who married, April 8, 1760, Leonhard Steininger, of Whitehall township.

The estate in Lower Milford township was devised by Theobald's will (a quaint document of great interest still in possession of the family) to the youngest son, Thomas, and valued at four hundred pounds. Thomas had to pay twenty-five pounds yearly to the other heirs until their shares amounting to two hundred and sixty-six pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence were discharged and they all signed a deed of release to him dated Jan. 23, 1773.

Thomas Mechling, 1751 to 1785, took posses- sion of the farm on his 21st birthday, his father having died before his majority. He married Katharine Welsh, concerning whose antecedents nothing is known, except that she came from Northampton county, near Easton. Thomas Mechling was lieutenant in the 3d company, Captain Peter Schuller, 2d Battalion, Colonel George Breinig, Northampton county Pennsyl- vania Militia and served with that regiment dur- ing the Revolution. His brother, Philip, was an ensign in the Ist company of the same regiment, and his oldest brother, Theobald (or Dewald), was an ensign of the 8th regular Pennsylvania line, and was severely wounded at the battle of Long Island.

Thomas Mechling died at the early age of 34. His widow, with her five children, moved back to her old home, where she married a widower by the name of Oberley, who also had a number of children. These two families of children, and a third set which arrived later, were all brought up there together in Northampton county.

Thomas Mechling and his wife, Katharine, had the following children :

William, born Oct. 7, 1774.

Jacob, born April 20, 1776.

John, born July 28, 1778.

Anna B., born April 4, 1782.

Peter, born Feb. 29, 1784.

Thomas Mechling having died intestate, John, his third son, came into possession of the property by partition proceedings June 1, 1800, and took possession of it when he was of age. In 1800, he married Anna Margaret Oberley (one of his step-sisters), born March 27, 1776, died Sept.

vania Militia during the War of 1812 and his commission, signed by by Thomas Mckean, is still in the possession of the family.

John Mechling and his wife, Anna Margaret, had nine children, as follows:

Sarah.

Elizabeth, who married Gabriel Kline.

Anna, who married Samuel Wieder.

Julia, who married Andrew Mohr.

Anthony, born May 1, 1818, died Jan. 24, 1878.

Four children who died in infancy.

Anthony Mechling, only surviving son of John Mechling, was one of the most successful farm- ers in Lower Milford township and a man of great physical strength. He married Mary Ann Shimer, daughter of John and Salome Shimer, of Shimersville, members of the family who founded the Lehigh county Shimersville. They lived on the old homestead at Hosensack until 1868, when he retired from active farming and built a fine house in Zionsville, about three and a half miles from Hosensack. Deposits of rich magnetic iron ore were found upon his new prop- erty and he received more than $15,000 in roy- alties for ore taken out of the mines located there.

Anthony Mechling and his wife, Mary Ann, had four children :

William H., who married Sallie J. Schreiber. Benjamin F., who married Grace Hubbs.

Sarah Shimer, who married Amandus S. Klep- pinger.

Anthony Wayne, who married Clara Artman.

Anthony Wayne Mechling was born Sept. 13, 1853, and died July 17, 1861, at his home at West Point, Neb. He married Clara Artman and had two children: Edgar L., born Oct. 28, 1879, and died July 29, 1896; and Mabel, wife of Daniel Heintzelman, of Philadelphia.

Sarah Shimer Mechling married Amandus S. Kleppinger and now resides in the Anthony Mechling house at Zionsville.

The sons, William Harrison and Benjamin F., were twins, born Feb. 22, 1847. They came to Philadelphia in 1869, and engaged in the wholesale tea and spice business under the name of Mechling Bros. This was the foundation of the present Chemical Manufacturing Company incorporated under the name of Mechling Bros. Manufacturing Company.

In 1891, Benjamin F. Mechling withdrew from the Mechling Bros. Manufacturing Com- pany, and became president of the Albro Clem Elevator Company, of Philadelphia. The chil- dren of Benjamin F. Mechling and his wife, Grace Hubbs, are: B. Franklin, Jr., who mar- 22, 1866. He was a lieutenant in the Pennsyl- ried Ethel Love, of Germantown, Philadelphia,

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and is associated with his father in the Albro Clem Elevator Company; Grace, married to Julius Oelberman, of Philadelphia; William Hubbs, a fellow in the department of anthropol- ogy of the University of Pennsylvania.

William Harrison Mechling was educated in the district school at Hosensack and later taught there. He finished his education at the Allen- town Seminary, which later became Muhlenberg College, and at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York. He is the president of the Mechling Bros. Manufacturing Company, of Philadelphia and Camden, N. J. The chil- dren of William Harrison Mechling and his wife, Sara Jane Schreiber, are:

Benjamin Schreiber, who married Kay Ker- shaw, of Germantown, Philadelphia.

Edward Anthony, who married Edith Elliott, of Germantown, Philadelphia.

Edward A., younger son of William Harrison Mechling, carries on a large farming enterprise in Burlington county, New Jersey, and is one of the leaders in the new progressive agriculture.

Benjamin S. is associated with his father in the Mechling Bros. Manufacturing Company. In 1902, he purchased the Mechling homestead in Lehigh county from his father and has done much to preserve the early buildings. Dewald Mechling's framed log house is still standing although it was remodeled about thirty-five years ago. A detached stone building containing the old kitchen with its big Dutch bake-oven is un- touched, as is also the ancient springhouse with its roof of red tiles. The three bank stone barn unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1906 was said to be the largest in Lehigh county. There is also a colonial stone dwelling house in a re- markable state of preservation, which is com- pletely fitted up with Mechling heirlooms and antique furniture collected in the immediate neighborhood. All the wills and other docu- ments mentioned in this article are in the posses- sion of Benjamin S. Mechling and form a col- lection of great interest to the antiquarian.

RICHARD MEISTERKNECHT.

The proprietor of the Volcan Brass Works, in Allentown, was born in Berlin, Germany, April 15, 1864. At the age of fourteen years he learned the trade in which he is now engaged. He came to America in 1887 and spent the first five years in New York City. Afterward, for a time, he lived in Philadelphia, then in Trenton, N. J., and in 1891 came to Allentown and settled there permanently. In October, 1898, Mr. Meister- knecht engaged in his present business in a small way and by strict attention to his business and by honest dealing his plant grew to its present pro-

portions. His works are equipped with all the latest machinery to handle any specialty in cast brass, iron and steel, metal stampings and electro plating. The great advantage of his plant is that he can manufacture anything from its beginning to its completion. The works are located at 714-718 North Fourth street. His frontage on Fourth street is 60 feet and its depth is 120 feet to Mohr street.

He married, in 1888, Mary Reimers, a native of Kiel Schleswick, Holstein, Germany. They have six children, viz: Annie, Elsie, Gertrude, Adella, Raymond and Irwin. Mr. Meister- knecht and family are members of the St. Peter's Lutheran Church.

MERKEL FAMILIES.

In Macungie township, Lehigh county, Penn- sylvania, two families of the name, Merckel, also spelled Merckell, Merkley, Merkle, Merkele, etc., had settled before the close of the middle of the eighteenth century. The first by the name to settle there was (1) JOHANNES MERCKEL, whose name appears among the signers in 1750, of an article of agreement between the Ev. Lu- theran and Ev. Reformed congregations of the Ziegel church, which is located about two miles across the Macungie township line in Weisen- berg. His name also appears on the tax list of Macungie of 1762 and 1781 ; and in the Federal Census Report of 1790. In the latter year he is recorded as the head of a family consisting of one son above 16, four sons under 16, and five females. Among his children were two sons: Peter and Christophel.

(II) Peter Merkel, supposed to have been a native of Germany, left that country with his parents when quite young. He married Christiana Weiss, and they lived for many years in the vi- cinity of Fogelsville, in Macungie township. They both lie in the old cemetery at the Ziegel church. Their family numbered five children: Peter (2) ; John, who lived in Weisenberg town- ship, and whose only son was named Charles ; Jacob, who also had a son Charles, lived near Kline's Corner, in Maxatawny township ; Jonas, of Longswamp township, whose children were: John, Willoughby and Mary; Daniel, also of Longswamp township. He was born Sept. 26, 1789, died Aug. 21, 1879, aged 88 years, 10 months and 26 days. His wife, Catharine Standt, was born in 1793 and died in 1861. They had three children: Nathan, Eliza and Hannah.

(III) Peter Merkel (2), son of Peter, was born in Macungie, Lehigh county, Sept. 23, 1796. His occupation was that of farming, which he followed all his life. A good farm of seventy acres lying on the line, between Maxatawny

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

and Longswamp townships, he kept under culti- vation. Besides his farm work he took great in- terest in the affairs of the community, and was also active in the work of Ziegler church, being deacon and elder of that organization. Peter Merkel's wife was Catharine Walbert, daughter of John Walbert. She was born Sept. 14, 1801, and died March 27, 1865, aged sixty-three years, six months, thirteen days. He died two years later, on May 30th, at the age of seventy years, eight months, seven days. Both are buried at the Ziegler church. To Mr. and Mrs. Merkel seven children were born, four daughters and three sons: Hettie, died unmarried ; Caroline, married David Ziegler ; Eliza, married Isaac Mayer ; John a resident of Maxatawny township, had children : Albert, William, Harvey, Cassie, Peter, and four who died in childhood; Mary, born Dec. 24, 1834, married Thomas Warmkessel; David, is referred to later; Henry, living near Cedarville, has six children living: Frank, Harry, Peter, Edwin, Eliza and Hettie.

(IV) David Merkel, the seventh child of Peter (2), was born in Longswamp township, Berks county, May 3, 1837. He was a saddler by trade, which he followed for four years near Farmington. In 1859 he became an employee of the Catasauqua & Fogelsville Railroad, and after four years he was made section foreman, which position he served for more than forty years, re- tiring two years before his death on Aug. 31, 1903. In recognition of his faithfulness and many years of service the railroad company had pensioned him. He was a member of Maxa- tawny Zion's Reformed church.

On Oct. 5, 1861, he married Sarah Matilda, daughter of Peter Schwoyer, of Fritztown, Spring township. They became the parents of eight children: Catharine, born Oct. 2, 1862, married Frank Moyer, of Hoffmansville, Pa .; George M., born Feb. 3, 1864, is a farmer in Richmond township; Louisa R., born Oct. 20, 1865, married Charles Levan, of Maxatawny ; Anna Esther, born Nov. 2, 1867, married Mar- tin Good, of New York City; Laura E., born Aug. 31, 1870, married James Guldin, a farmer of Maxatawny township; Robert W., born 1874, died 1889; Lillie A., born June 28, 1877, mar- ried John Kemp; Caroline, born 1883, died 1886.

In the graveyard at Trexlertown is buried Maria Merckel, wife of Johannes Merckel. She was born Aug. 16, 1773, and died Jan. 16, 1822; and in the same place are buried Ludwig Merck- ley and his wife Hannah, nee Wieand. He was born Dec. 16, 1806, died Oct. 22, 1855. She was born Oct. 22, 1814, died April 29, 1843.

(II) Christophel Merkel, son of Johannes, was born April 25, 1755. He was a farmer in Macungie township and there he died on July 19, 1813, aged 58 years, 2 months and 23 days. On Feb. 2, 1779, he married Christiana Gacken- bach, of Weisenberg township. They had one son and four daughters, namely:

Catharine, married Peter Bärr (The Black). Jacob.

Magdalena, married Peter Barr (The Red). Maria, married Michael Peter.

Salome, married John Kistler.

The last will and testament of Christophel Merkel was made the 21st day of January, 1809. Each of the four daughters received the sum of 450 pounds of money. Catharine, the wife of Peter Barr, had died prior to the making of her father's will, therefore Mary and Judith Barr, her two daughters each was bequeathed the sum of 200 pounds.

In the cemetery at Trexlertown, Pa., near the southwestern end of the old church building, is the grave of (I) LUDWIG MERCKELL, one of the pioneer settlers of that locality. The marble tombstone of this ancestor contains the following inscription :

Hier Ruhen Die gebeine von LUDWIG MERCKELL Er war gebohren den 17 ten May 1723 in Stein- bachln der Paltz und ist Gestorben den 16 ten May 1808 er hat gelebet 85 Yahr. Sein leicht text Ist 39 psalm 13 und 14 Vers.

The number of children of the above ancestor have not been definitely established, but in 1790, the first federal census records him as the father of two sons above sixteen, and two daughters. But some of the children had been married and had already established their own families. Among these was their son, Abraham. In 1914, there are still fifteen of the name in Macungie township, among whom are: Charles A., farm- er; Eugene and George H., both of Breinigs- ville; George M., farmer at Wescoesville; Harry W., of East Texas; Harvey W., farmer; and William M., of Fogelsville.

The Macungie township tax list of 1762 con- tains the names of John Merkle and Ludwig Merkley; the tax list of 1781 has those of John

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Merckle, Stofel Merckle and Ludwig Meeckley; and the tax list in 1812 contains those of Jacob, Christian and Ludwig Merchall. These three doubtless, were of the second generation of these families. Johannes (John) Merckel had then died, so had Ludwig Merckel, whose inscription upon the tombstone records his death in 1808.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 21

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