USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III > Part 5
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796
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
April 5, 1887, succeeeding his preceptor, the late Dr. Koch.
Dr. Leh is an honored and successful practi- tioner and enjoys a large practice. He is a mem- ber of the Lehigh County Medical Society, of Chapman's Lodge, No. 637, F. & A. M., and the K. G. E., No. 510, of Egypt. Politically he is a Republican and has served Whitehall township on the board of education for six years and he now is the physician to the board of health of the township.
On April 12, 1884, he married Ellen C. Laury, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Ritter) Laury. They have these children: Dr. Homer D., who graduated from Franklin and Marshall College and Jefferson Medical College, and was resident physician of the Methodist Hospital at Philadelphia for one year; he is now practicing at Hampton, Adams county, Pa .; Virginia, mar- ried Ralph Walter; Harold L., deceased; Russell W .; Ida S.
Samuel Leh was born in North Whitehall township, October 26, 1832. He did contract work at ore mines. Afterwards he cut down tim- ber tracts and sawed it into boards, following the business a number of years. Later on he was en- gaged in the lime business, but he cultivated the homestead farm for many years before his death, March 4, 1896. He is buried at the Egypt church. He married Flora (Peter), a daughter of Elias and Elizabeth (Wehr) Peter. Their children were: Oliver E .; Benjamin; Laura, married Charles Roth, and George. The last three are deceased.
HON. OLIVER E. LEH, former member of the State Legislature and a prosperous business man of this county, residing at Egypt, was born in North Whitehall township, Lehigh county, June 28, 1858, son of Samuel and Flora (Peter) Leh. He attended the common schools of his district and the State Normal School at Kutztown. At the age of 14 years he began to earn his own live- lihood by working in the iron ore beds, and from 1881 to 1885, inclusive, he was employed on the L. V. R. R. Afterward he secured a position with the Saylor Cement Works, at Coplay, and later he was employed for four years by the Le- high Portland Cement Company.
In 1886 he entered the employ of the American Cement Company at Egypt, and was with them only a short time when he was promoted to the position of foreman in the manufacturing depart- ment, which place he filled until 1901, and since 1889 he also had charge of the company's 300- acre farm in connection with his other duties.
In the year 1901, he engaged in the quarrying of limestone, carting and hauling of the stones for the cement company on a contract basis, and
he continued the supervision of the 300-acre farm for the company until in 1911. Since the latter date he is connected with the firm of Leh & Peters, dealers in coal, wood, crushed stone, etc., at Egypt. He was connected with the firm of E. E. Long & Co., also at Egypt, for seven years.
He is the president of the Redington Stone Quarry Corporation, and is the owner and pro- prietor of the Lehigh Poultry Farm, at Egypt, which he established in 1909. He keeps as many as 4,000 chickens, which are all white leghorns of the best breed. His entire egg product is sold to the Hotel Allen, at Allentown.
Mr. Leh and wife are members of the Re- - formed church at Egypt. Socially he has member- ship in the following lodges: Porter Lodge, No. 284, F. & A. M .; Catasauqua Chapter, No. 278, Royal Arch Masons; Allen Commandery, Knights Templar, No. 20; Caldwell Consistory 32d deg., of Bloomsburg, and the Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Reading; the B. P. O. E., No. 130; the F. O. E .; Greenleaf Lodge, No. 257, Knights of Pythias, and the Improved Order of Red Men, No. 55, all of Allentown. He was president of the Catasauqua Club; is a member of the Livingston Club and Clover Club, of Al- lentown; the Washington Club, of Egypt, and the Mckinley Republican Club, of Bethlehem.
He was elected as a Republican to the State Legislature for two terms in 1909 and 1911; was postmaster of Egypt for twenty years; com- mitteeman of Whitehall township for twenty years, and township commissioner for four years.
In 1899 he erected his fine residence on the main street of Egypt.
On July 4, 1878, he married Rosina Troxell, daughter of Paul and Mary (Schneck) Trox- ell. Their five children are: Harvey S .; Minnie J., married Samuel Lazarus; Alfred H .; George P., and Robert J.
ALFRED H. LEH, son of Hon. Oliver E., was born May 30, 1884. He was educated in the public schools of Egypt, the Bethlehem Prepara- tory School, the University Preparatory School, at Ithaca, N. Y., and the Lehigh University at South Bethlehem. He was postmaster of Egypt from January, 1907, to July, 1913. He is a Re- publican, and socially has membership in these orders : Independent Order of Red Men, No. 97, and the Washington Club, both of Egypt; the Catasauqua Club and the College fraternities of the Lehigh University and the University Pre- paratory school.
On April 12, 1910, he married Minnie, a daughter of Francis and Amanda ( Ritter) Wood- ring. They have a daughter, Caroline W.
William Leh was born in Williams township, Northampton county, Nov. 28, 1842. He re-
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
sided in Allentown for forty years where he was a merchant tailor. In politics he was a Repub- lican and filled the office of city councilman from the Fourth ward. He and family were members of Salem Reformed church. He was married to Clara Kern, who was born June 21, 1852, and died Nov. 1, 1890. He died Feb. 23, 1909, and both are buried on the Union cemetery in Allen- town. They were the parents of the following children: Emily, Harvey E., Arthur H., and William J.
WILLIAM J. LEH, merchant tailor of Allen- town, was born in that city, Sept. 1, 1875. He learned the tailoring trade in his native city and in 1894 he engaged in business for himself at Emaus. In 1902 he moved to Allentown, locating at the corner of Eighth and Turner streets. He is engaged in ladies' and gents' tailoring work, having a select trade and employs 12 people. He and family are members of the Lutheran Church. He holds membership in the following organiza- tions: Modern Woodmen, Knights of Friend- ship, Independent Order of America, and a char- ter member of the Order of Lions. He was mar- ried on Dec. 24, 1896, to Leah M. Filbert, a daughter of Harry and Laura M. (Wenner) Filbert. To them two children have been born: Earl W., and Harold F.
JOHN EDWIN LEHMAN.
John Edwin Lehman, superintendent of Le- high Fisheries, was born April 21, 1867, in Sal- isbury township, Lehigh county.
He was reared on his father's farm, and at- tended the public schools, his first teacher being Emanuel Bitting. At the age of seventeen he left school, and at nineteen he left home, and went to Emaus, where he learned the trade of baker with M. Miller. He remained but one year, then went to Boyertown, where he worked at his trade for six months, and for a like period at Alburtis. He then resumed farming for a short time, after which he entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, Daniel Kline, and they conducted a bakery at Aineyville for one year. During the next four years he followed farming on shares for Daniel F. Fink. Mr. Lehman afterward became a fence salesman, a position he followed during the summer time, while during the winter months he worked at the Lehigh Fishery.
Since 1903 he has been in the employ of Col. H. C. Trexler, at the Lehigh Fisheries, and since June, 1912, he is the superintendent, and having charge of a number of men. His uncle, Daniel Eberhard, owned the Lehigh Fisheries many years ago.
In 1890 he was married to Tana Fink, a
daughter of Daniel and Sarah L. (Butz) Fink. They had an only son, Warren John, who died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Lehman are members of West- ern Salisbury church, and he served as vice- president of its Sunday school. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A .; Sons of Veterans; and Knights of Mystic Chain. In politics he is an Independent Republican.
LEHR FAMILY.
COL. SAMUEL D. LEHR was born in Allen- town, May 30, 1838, the son of Joseph Lehr, born March 29, 1807, died Jan. 12, 1864, and his wife, Louisa Newhard, born Feb. 9, 1805, died June 4, 1862. His paternal grandfather, Peter Lehr, was born Jan. 18, 1777, in Whitehall township, and died March 4, 1847. He is buried on the old Allentown cemetery. His paternal grandmother, Margaret Volk, was born in 1771 and died June 12, 1864, aged 93 years. She is buried on Union cemetery. She was a daughter of John Valentine Volk and his wife, Eva Maria Cadel. John Valentine Volk was born Jan. 10, 1734, in Reichelsheim, Erbach. He was married to Eva Maria Cadel Feb. 21, 1764. She was a daughter of John Philip Cadel or Kadel, a citizen and master tailor of Zozenbach, Erbach, and his wife, Anna Catharina, where she was born Sept. 1, 1730. She was baptized Sept. 3, 1730, and the sponsor was Eva, wife of John Leonard Scheud, mayor of Upper Breidich. John Valen- tine Volk died Oct. 5, 1818, aged 84 years, 8 months and some days. His wife, Eva M (Cadel) Volk, died May 11, 1818, aged 87 years, 8 months and II days.
Col. Lehr's paternal great-grandfather, John Lehr, lived in Whitehall township, and was a weaver by occupation. He married Mary Marga- ret Dorny and had a large number of children. She was born in 1752 and died Oct. 12, 1794, aged 42 years. John Lehr died about 1804. Among their children were :
John, born Jan. 10, 1772.
Mary Margaret, born Feb. 21, 1775, died 1854. She married Jacob Ott.
Peter Lehr, grandfather of Col. Lehr.
Adam, born Sept. 2, 1778.
Henry, born Feb. 22, 1781.
Eva, born July 2, 1782, and married Frederick Gutekunst.
Philip, born Nov. 4, 1783, died Aug. 24, 1847. Daniel, born June 29, 1785.
Joseph, born March 19, 1787.
Michael, born Sept. 16, 1788 died April 17, 1868, who was a veteran of the War of 1812, and was unmarried.
Joseph Lehr was appointed in 1833 as Second
798
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Lieutenant in the 68th Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia. His wife, Louise Newhard, was the daughter of Peter Newhard and wife, Anna Mar- garet Diefenderfer. Peter Newhard was a son of Lawrence Newhard, who was a son of Fred- erick Newhard, who settled in America in 1737. Joseph and Louise Lehr had nine children, of whom five reached maturity. Charles, the eldest, married Eliza Paul, and had two children: Harry, who died at the age of 21 years, and Grace L., the wife of Howard W. Dennis. Christiana M. Lehr married, April 10, 1859, Ephraim Roth. He was born Aug. 7, 1830,and died Oct. 2, 1900, at Mulberry, Ind. Mrs. Roth died July 21, 1889. They had two sons and four daughters.
Horace Lehr, second son of Joseph, married Mary S. Knappenberger. She was born Aug. 6, 1840, and died Nov. 11, 1889. They had two children: William C., and Sarah E., wife of Alvin Bierman. The third son was Samuel Daniel Lehr. Henry M. Lehr, fourth son, mar- ried Susan Wetstein and had two children: Wil- liam and John, who live near Mulberry, Ind.
In early life Col. Lehr attended the public schools of Allentown and the Allentown Academy at Eighth and Wanut streets, and at an early age actively engaged in business. His first em- ployment was at Nonnemaker's brick yard at Tenth and Turner streets. He then entered the employ of Dr. Jesse Samuels and Jacob Dillinger, who had patented a machine for the manufacture of brick of dry clay. The machine worked very well, but the bricks were worthless and only one kiln was burned. In November, 1853, he be- came connected with the engineering corps of the Allentown and Auburn Railroad under Dr. Sam- uels. During four years he was engaged in work on railroads, including locating the central line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad between Alentown and Easton, the first train over which was run in 1855, and the Catasauqua and Fogelsville and East Penn Railroads and assisted in making a topographical survey. In 1862 he entered the em- ploy of G. A. Aschbach, who was then city engi- neer, and assisted in distributing the maps of the county to 600 subscribers which sold at $5.00 per copy. On Oct. 16, 1862, he entered the serv- ice of the United States as Captain of Company B, 176th Regiment of Pennsylvania Infantry. The company was mustered in at Philadelphia on Nov. 7, 1862, and the enlistment was for nine months, but the actual service was ten months and two days. There were several companies from Lehigh county, and three from Monroe county. A regiment was organized Nov. 11, 1862, under Col. Ambrose Lechler ; Lt. Col., George Pilking- ton; Major, W. M. Schoonover. Soon after the regiment was organized it was sent to
Suffolk, Va., where it was thoroughly instructed in military tactics and discipline. When General Foster's expedition was organized for the rein- forcement of the army operating against the de- fences of Charleston, S. C., the 176th Pennsyl- vania, having been assigned to a provisional bri- gade of the 18th army corps under General Fos- ter, accompanied the expedition, proceeding to Newberne, N. C., whence it embarked Jan. 27, 1863, arriving at Hiltonhead, S. C., February 5th. The regiment served from this time in the de- partment of the South and performing provost duty, and engaged in an important and valuable service upon the fortifications during the siege of Charleston. Upon the expiration of this term of service, the command returned North, and was transferred to Philadelphia, to be mustered out on the 17th and 18th of August, 1863.
Col. Lehr then returned to Allentown and again entered the service of Mr. Aschbach, who was still acting as city engineer, continuing in that position until September, 1864, when he was commissioned by Governor Curtin as recruiting agent to serve as such in the southeastern district of West Virginia, until further orders were re- ceived. The appointment was authorized by spe- cial act of Congress, which empowered governors in the several states of the Union to appoint re- cruiting agents to serve in the states declared to be in rebellion. The object of this service was to fill the quotas of the several sub-divisions of the states. He reported to General Wilds, at Nor- folk, Va., and was assigned to Newport News, to the recruiting rendezvous and there the command- ing officers received an order from General Hun- ter restricting the limits of the recruiting agents and removing the able-bodied colored men out of the limited district, in consequence of which order there were no recruits to be had. There were 100 agents appointed, only one of whom was from Pennsylvania. Col. Lehr then returned to Allentown, and continued in the civil engineering work under Mr. Aschbach until 1868. In that year, in company with Richard Emery, he became Mr. Aschbach's successor in his private business interests. The new firm established itself as civil engineers in Allentown. Its relation was main- tained until the death of Mr. Emery, April 25, 1872, after which Col. Lehr continued alone. In the meantime, however, he had been appointed by the city council in 1869 to the position of civil engineer and he filled that position for twenty consecutive years, when he was succeeded by L. S. Jacoby. After the election of Col. Lehr as partner, Mr. Emery had carried on the private business of the firm until his death when Mr. Lehr put aside his private interests as a civil engi- neer, devoting his entire time and attention to the
799
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
duties of the office of city engineer until his re- tirement from official service. He then opened an office for the private practice of his profession and was again alone in the business until 1894, when he admitted J. Howard Martz to a part- nership, under the firm name of Lehr & Martz. Later A. W. Leh, architect, became a member of the firm and the business title was Lehr, Leh & Martz, civil engineers and achitects, until 1897, when the association was discontinued. Col. Lehr was then again alone in the practice of his pro- fession until July 22, 1901, when Henry S. Bas- com became his partner, and the firm became Lehr & Bascom, until the retirement of Col. Lehr on Sept. 14, 1908. For a period of 45 years Col. Lehr enjoyed a large patronage in the line of civil engineering and few men are better known in this section of the state. He is president of the Pennsylvania Loan & Building Association, hav- ing been at the head of this corporation since its inception, and the Allen Printing and Supply Company.
Col. Lehr's term of office as civil engineer of Allentown was longer than that of any other in- cumbency in the history of the city, but he was called by the public to serve in a still higher capacity, and in 1890 was elected mayor of the city by a vote of 2,473 to 2,234 for William F. Yeager, which office he served with ability for three years until 1893. While he was mayor in 1890, the trolley made its debut. He then re- tired, as he thought, from actice life, but in 1897 he was chosen common councilman for a two years' term and was again elected in 1899, serving until 1901. He retired from the office of coun- cilman as he has from the other public position, which he has filled, with the entire confidence and good will of the public, his course having ever been marked by the utmost loyalty to the trust reposed in him and the most absolute fidelity to the tasks which have devolved upon him. When Col. Lehr was a candidate for the Demo- cratic nomination of mayor in Allentown, it took 30 ballots to make the choice, the other candidates being James F. Gallagher, William R. Henninger, W. K. Ruhe, A. D. Dresher, and J. S. Dil- linger. Col. Lehr has never ceased to take a deep interest in military affairs and for many years after the Civil War, maintained active con- nection with military interests of the state. On June 21, 1869, he organized the Allen Zouaves, of Allentown, which organization became Com- pany B, of the 4th Regiment, Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry. He was elected captain of the company June 21, 1869, and retained the com- mand until Dec. 2, 1875, resigning June 11, 1876. He took up the captaincy and commanded his company at the Reading riots. On Oct. 29, 1885,
he was elected colonel of the 4th Regiment, serv- ing five years and being in command of the camps in this city in 1886 and at Slatington in 1888, and retired from active military life Oct. 29, 1891. On Dec. 27, 1911, by military order issued by the commander-in-chief, Governor Tener, he was put on the retired list with the rank of brigadier-general. On Nov. 4, 1913, he was again called into public life by election to the of- fice of councilman, one of five who govern the city, and is now superintendent of the department of streets and public improvements.
He is a leading member of the E. B. Young Post, No. 87, G. A. R., and the Lehigh County Historical Society, and of the Board of Directors of the Allentown Trust Company. His political affiliation is with the Democracy and he is a mem- ber of the Democratic League.
Col. Lehr was married in 1865 to Elizabeth Engleman, of Upper Saucon, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Owen) Engleman. They have one daughter, Cora May Lehr, who is the wife of Arnon P. Miller, of West Bethlehem, Pa. They have two children: Margaret Louisa Miller and Samuel Lehr Miller.
The ship, "Two Brothers," on Sept. 14, 1749, brought to Philadelphia, Phillipus Löhr, Hans Peter Lehr, and Joh. Haubrich Löhr, one of which is the ancestor of this line. Whichever one of the aforesaid was the ancestor, had three sons, whose names have come down to us, viz : John, Peter, and Philip. Philip, according to the Federal census, had one son under 16, and one daughter, in 1790. He resided in Whitehall township.
Israel Lehr, son of Philip, resided in Allen- town, conducting a shoemaker-shop on North Seventh street. He had been married twice, the first wife being Eliza Lucas, from which union there were born the following: Henry E .; Israel L .; Sallie; Annie, married to Theodore Smith, last of Philadelphia; Emma, married to Mr. Schulte, deceased, of Philadelphia.
Israel L. Lehr, son of Israel, was born in Allentown, April 16, 1843. He received but limited schooling. Working at first in the brick- yards, he later learned the trade of bricklaying. Subsequently he began contracting for himself, at which he continued until his son was taken into partnership under the firm name of I. L. Lehr & Son. The firm erected as high as fifty houses in a season and continued in business up to 1905. Since then Mr. Lehr has a number of teams employed in general hauling. He is a Democrat, serving as school director of the Tenth ward; fraternally is a member of I. O. O. F., and the Reformed Church. In 1870, he married Lovinia, daughter of Edward and Elemina (Die-
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
fenderfer) Seip, the issue being: Harrison F .; Edward H., deceased, married to Martha A. Remaly; Jennie A., married to Levi Stauffer, of Allentown ; Annie E., married to Geo. W. Sny- der, of Allentown; Robert, deceased; Elsie, de- ceased; Geo. O., married Catherine E. William- son, of Allentown; Mamie, married to George Rabich, of Allentown; Thomas W., of Allen- town; Frederick, of Allentown. Mr. Lehr re- sides at 617 North Seventh street, Allentown.
HARRISON F. LEHR, son of Israel and Lovinia (Seip) Lehr, was born in Allentown, Pa., Dec. 5 1872. Attending the public schools to the age of 15, he then learned the trade of bricklaying, at which he continued for three years. During the winter time of this period he attended the American Business College, devoting two years to designing and drafting. Thereupon he entered into partnership with his father, as general con- tractors, which continued to 1905. The following year he went to Philadelphia, where he engaged in the bricklaying trade. Returning he was em- ployed as foreman in the F. W. Wint & Co. Planing Mill, at Catasauqua for one year. Since then he has been engaged in the general contract- ing business for himself at Allentown. In poli- tics he is a Democrat, serving as the representa- tive of the Tenth ward on the school board for one term up to 1905 ; also served four years on the Board of Control. Fraternally he belong to K. G. E., F. & A. M., and is a member of the Re- formed Church. He was married to Elenora I:, daughter of Wm. A., deceased, and Mary (Haas) Hartman, on July 7, 1898. He resides at 228 North Fulton street, Allentown.
LEIBY FAMILY.
Frederick Leiby, a Swiss, with his wife and four sons, left his native land, Switzerland, in- tending to go to South America. In their journey upon reaching the Rhine river, the wife was told not to go to South America, but to North America. The wife, at an opportune time, com- municated this information to her husband and entreated him to go to the land of William Penn. They accordingly embarked for North America in 1733 upon the ship "Samuel," which landed at Philadelphia on Aug. 17, 1733. The move- ments of the family from the time of their land- ing until 1754 are unknown but in 1754 they were located in Greenwich township, Berks county. The tax list of 1756 records the names of Die- trich, George Michael, and Jacob Leiby. It is probable that the name of "Dietrich" Leiby is an error and should be "Frederick" Leiby. The tax list of Greenwich township in 1759 contains the names of Frederick, George, and Jacob Leiby. After the latter year (1759), the name of Fred-
erick Leiby disappears from the tax list but it contains this item: "Frederick's Leiby's widow," showing that this ancestor had died.
Near the Dunkel's church in Greenwich town- ship, was the homestead of a Jacob Leiby, who probably was a son of (George) Michael Leiby. This farm is now the property of Wilson Heffner. Jacob Leiby was married to Margaretha Dunkel. They were both members of the German Re- formed congregation of Dunkel's church and there they are buried. Their children were: Daniel, settled in Schuylkill county; Jacob, set- tled in Windsor (now Perry) township, Berks county; George, remained upon the homestead ; Benjamin, moved to Ohio; Catharine, married George Heinley, of Greenwich township; Polly, married Heinrich Moyer, of Greenwich town- ship ; Peggy, married John Kohler, of Greenwich township; Lucena, married Isaac Wagonhurst ; Hettie, married Adam Bachman; Salome, mar- ried Heinrich Lenhart, of Greenwich township.
Jacob Leiby, son of Jacob, was born Dec. 14, 1798. He settled in Windsor township, on the west side of the Ontelaunee on property which he purchased in 1825, and which is still in the fam- ily name. In 1829 he built the present house and his son, Issac, was the first person born in it. He is said to have possessed psychic powers to a high degree, and by the laying on of hands was known to relieve and cure many of the ailments of the flesh. Honest and well-meaning people testified to his helpfulness and usefulness to his commun- ity. He was a militiaman and played the flute in Captain George Heinley's company at Wind- sor. He and his family were members of the Reformed St. Peter's church, which he served as deacon and elder for many years. He saw the "falling of the stars" in 1833, which phenomenon made a great impression upon the minds of the people and many spoke of it as the "snowing of fire from heaven." He built several houses at Reading and was a man of more than ordinary prominence. His wife was Hannah Ulrich. They had eleven children :
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