History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 61

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 61

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I. John, born Dec. 23, 1768. 2. Peter, born June 28, 1770. 3. Jacob, born March 5, 1776, died April 16, 1773. 4. Catharine, born March 19, 1774, died May 15, 1856, married Jacob Erdman. 5. John Adam, born Feb. 27, 1776. 6. Barbara, born March 25, 1778, died Decem- ber, 1854, married Anthony Eschbach.

John Adam Romig married, second, Elizabeth Barbara, daughter of Frederick Newhard, of Whitehall township. She was born April 3, 1753, and died July 24, 1838. They had nine children: I. Elizabeth, born Nov. 6, 1781, died Sept. 12, 1861, married John Henry Wint. 2. Jacob, born Nov. 17, 1782, died Aug. 29, 1801. 3. Susanna, born March 16, 1784, died Oct. 29, 1869, married John J. Mory. 4. Magdalena. 5. Anna Eva, born May 15, 1787, died Oct. 14, 1822, married, April 21, 1822, Jacob Newhard. 6. Daniel, born July 27, 1789. 7. Sarah, born May 21, 1791, died Dec. 3, 1876, married Hon. Peter Newhard, congressman from Lehigh coun- ty. 8. Samuel, who died at Lockport, N. Y. 9. Thomas.

John Romig, eldest son of John Adam, was born Dec. 23, 1768, and died at Allentown, July 28, 1850. He was a farmer and miller and re- moved from Upper Saucon to Allentown in 1819 and there operated a grist-mill with Chris- tian Pretz. He was a director of the old North- ampton Bank and a member of the Reformed Church. He married, first, Hannah Koehler,

who was born Feb. 18, 1780, and died Aug. 26, 1826. They had seven children. He married, second, Christina, widow of Solomon Gutekunst. She was born Dec. 5, 1782, and died July 25, 1832. He married, third, Susanna, widow of John Rieb, a daughter of George Jacob New- hard. She was born Oct. 20, 1779, and died Aug. 24, 1854. John Romig's children were: Peter, who died in 1824; Dr. John; Rebecca, married William Craig; Judith, died young ; Mary A., married Thomas Barber; Charles, died aged 16 years; and Dr. William J .. born 1821, died 1883, who had sons: Albert and Al- fred.

Dr. John Romig was born in Upper Saucon in 1804, attended a Mennonite school, read medi- cine with Dr. William Baum, of Reading, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1825. He located at Fogelsville for four years, when he married Eliza Fogel, who died in 1829. He removed to Allentown in 1830 and married Matilda, daughter of Dr. Charles H. Martin. In 1834 he became one of the faculty of the Homeopathic College at Allentown, serv- ing until 1838, when he removed to Baltimore, Md., where he remained until 1840, when he returned to Allentown and continued in active practice at 533 Hamilton street until his death, Feb. 5, 1885. He was active in the militia and rose to the rank of colonel and was an elder of the Presbyterian Church. He had nineteen chil- dren, a number of whom died in childhood. The children surviving were: Eliza R., married Ed- mond J. More, Esq., and had a daughter, Ma- tilda R .; Prof. John I., a noted musician, edu- cated at the Pennsylvania Institute of the Blind ; Hannah L., married (first) Cyrus B. May, died 1876, and had a daughter, Edith R., born 1867, died 1900, and (second) Joshua Hunt, died 1886; Dr. William H., born 1846, died 1884, gradu- ated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1867, married Mary L., daughter of Jesse Line, and had two daughters: Jessie L., married Thomas Foley; and Christine L .; Dr. George M., a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, class of 1868; Matilda; and Anna J., married Joseph Hunt.

Peter Romig, second son of John Adam, was born June 28, 1770, in Upper Saucon, and died Aug. 9, 1844, in North Whitehall. He was a miller and blacksmith and in 1790 removed to North Whitehall, where his father had purchased a tract of land along the Coplay creek and erected a grist-mill of stone. This was torn down in 1826 and a stone mill still standing, but no longer operated, was erected. Peter Romig also built a saw-mill here, which he bequeathed to his son, John, with a larger portion of the land, and the

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grist-mill and 17 acres to his son, Peter. Peter Romig was a man of wonderful strength and it is said he was able to lift an anvil with his little finger. He married Johanna Jacob, who was born May 17, 1773, and died Aug. 4, 1847. They are buried at Unionville. They had two sons: Peter and John. John was born Aug. 17, 18II, and died Jan. 21, 1887. He married Abi- gail Miller, born Aug. 17, 1813, died Sept. 20, 1893.

Peter Romig, son of Peter, was born in North Whitehall, Aug. 7, 1797, and died June 27, 1868. He conducted the grist-mill for many years, and about 1842 purchased a Neumoyer mill and 80 acres in Lower Macungie along the Little Lehigh, which he operated some years, but returned to North Whitehall and lived retired in a brick house he built near Romig's Mill. He was elected county commissioner as a Democrat. in 1843, re-elected in 1846, elected poor director in 1853, and was also school director. He mar- ried, first, Oct. 25, 1818, Salome, daughter of George Wenner. She was born Dec. 17, 1799, died Aug. 4, 1847, and is buried at Salisbury church. They had 13 children. He married, second, Anna Hausman, widow of John Xander, born Feb. 10, 1808, died April 2, 1893. They had no children. Peter Romig's children were: I. Owen, born Sept. 3, 1819. 2. Mary A., born Jan. 12, 1821, married (first) Jacob Koons, and (second) Major Thomas Ruch. 3. Han- nah, born Sept. 25, 1822. 4. Serena, born Sept. 18, 1824. 5. Reuben, born Aug. 24, 1826, died April 7, 1901, in Lower Macungie. 6. Charles, born Oct. 2, 1828, who lived in Lower Macun- gie. 7. Catharine, born Oct. 20, 1830, died May 22, 1870, married Owen Laudenslager. 8. Fi- anna S:, born Oct. 29, 1829, married Tilghman Reinsmith. 9. Alfred P. L., born Feb. 5, 1835, died Dec. 9, 1885, in Indiana. 10. Edmund H., born March 13, 1837, died April 30, 1903, a miller in Lower Macungie, who had children: Morris, and Mrs. John Bieber. II. Samuel W. E., born July 13, 1839, who died in Macun- gie. 12. James F. W., born March 31, 1841, now in a soldier's home. 13. Amanda L., born Aug. 3, 1843, married Thomas F. Good, former- ly of North Whitehall, later of Allentown.

Owen Romich, eldest son of Peter, Jr., was born Sept. 3, 1819. He attended school until the age of ten, when he began working in his father's mill, which he was capable of managing four years later. In 1844 he leased the mill and con- ducted it for himself, as well as the farm, both of which he operated until 1863, when he removed to Catasauqua and engaged in the general store business. He died at Catasauqua, Oct. 4, 1894. He was a member and elder of the Reformed

Church and in politics a Democrat. He mar- ried, April 19, 1840, Magdalena, daughter of Joseph Kern. She was born Feb. 14, 1819, and died Oct. 6, 1897.

HENRY P. K. ROMICH, a farmer and resident of Egypt, son of Owen Romich, was born in Salisbury township, Nov. 25, 1840. He was educated in the schools of North Whitehall and of Pottsville and spent his youth on the Romig farm. He learned the milling business at the age of seventeen and operated the Romig mill in partnership with his father from 1863 to 1896, when he removed to Egypt, where he owns a farm along the Coplay creek. He was elected a member of the school board of North Whitehall as a Democrat and re-elected for two terms, .when he was elected township auditor. After serving this office three years, he was re-elected to the school board for six consecutive years and served six years as secretary. He is a member of the Reformed Church. He married, Feb. 25, 1865, Ellen J., daughter of Aaron and Clarissa (Tice) Kachline. They had two children : Clara P .; and Mabel E., who died, unmarried, Aug. 8, 1907, aged 24 years.

Freiderich Romig, son of Frederick, and grand- son of John Adam, was born July 22, 1747, and was married to Catherine Dreher, a German Moravian lady. Among their children was a son, Peter, who was married twice and had eleven children: By first wife: Joseph, a farm- er, who died in Maple Grove, Berks county, Pa .; Hettie, who married William Lattimore, a Yan- kee, who sold the old kind of wooden clocks, travelling from house to house, and who was buried in the Egypt cemetery; Reuben, was born Oct. 3, 1809, in Lower Macungie township, at Romig's Gass, married Anna Hiskey, daughter of John Hiskey, was a tailor, and died Oct. 9, 1876, and was buried in the U. B. cemetery at East Texas; Hannah, married Jacob Schank- weiler, died and was buried in Seneca county, Ohio; Jacob, married Mary Ann Stahl, a sister of Charles Stahl, who fifty years ago was a well- known crock manufacturer at Powder Valley, Pa. Jacob Romig was buried in Cedarville Evangelical cemetery ; Peter, Jr., was a carpenter, married Julia Stephen, and was buried at Trex- lertown; Nathan, married Hettie Sassaman, was a carpenter, a member of the U. B. Church, and was buried at East Texas. By his second wife Peter Romig had: Annetta, who married Daniel Ritter, and was buried at Salisbury church; Amelia, married Joseph Schaeffer, and was buried at Cedarville Reformed church cemetery ; Priscilla, married William Yeager, the founder of the furniture factory in the Twelfth ward of Allentown, and was buried in Fairview ceme-

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tery, at Allentown; Clementina, married Abra- ham Diefenderfer and was buried at Trexler- town.

Joseph Romig, son of Peter Romig, Sr., was married twice and had five children: Joseph L., James, Charles, William, and Mary. She died in Iowa.

Joseph L. Romig was first married to Eliza- beth Gehman, their issue being four sons : the first two died in infancy, the other two were: Henry Horace and J. Oscar, and both became ministers. Their mother died Aug. 31, 1866, and their fa- ther Jan. 12, 1869. Both are buried in the ceme- tery of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ church, Upper Milford township, Lehigh county, Pa. Joseph L. Romig's second wife had been Anna Gottschalk, who survives, no issue. He was a carpenter, also taught school, and was one of the first preachers of the afore-named church, with a few others, assisting Rev. William Gehman, the founder, in the organization of the denomination.

HENRY HORACE ROMIG, son of Joseph L. Romig, was born March 22, 1864, near Vera Cruz, Lehigh county, Pa. He was educated in the public schools of Upper Milford township; also, when a boy, attended a summer school at Dillingersville, in Lower Milford township, taught by John Bitting. This school was sus- tained through the bequest of a public spirited citizen and friend of education. When six years of age, Henry Horace Romig was adopted by Alfred D. Romig and wife, Amanda, who had no children and in whose home he received a good Christian training. In his youth he worked on the farm mostly. The guardian appointed for him was the late Rev. Abraham Kauffman, of Up- per Milford township, who furnished money for the education of his ward from funds on interest until his majority. From January, 1881, till the fall of the same year he attended the Keystone State Normal School, Kutztown, Pa., while Dr. Nathan C. Schaeffer, now state superintendent, was the principal. That fall he obtained his first provisional teacher's certificate from Prof. David S. Keck, county superintendent of the Berks county public schools. He successfully taught his first term at Seisholtzville, Pa. After- wards he continued his education at Schuylkill Seminary, Reading, Pa., graduating as valedic- torian of his class in 1883, in the English scien- tific course. Then he taught in one of the First ward school buildings, Allentown, Pa., and dur- ing the same term also teaching in the night school of the Sixth ward. Later re-entering Schuylkill Seminary but staying only a short time, he went to Philadelphia and graduated, Jan. 9, 1885, in Haven's College of Practical Phonog- raphy and Typewriting. For a time he was

stenographer for R. W. Davenport, superinten- dent of the Midvale Steel Works, Nicetown, Philadelphia. He was married to Miss Alavesta Musselman, of Coopersburg, Pa., who died Nov. 19, 1886, a little less than a year after marriage, leaving a child (Alavesta) only a day old. For several years he was stenographer and bookkeeper for J. S. Harley, harness manufacturer at Quak- ertown, Pa. During a vacation he took his sec- ond trip to Michigan and Kansas. Eight months after his return, he married, May 26, 1888, Miss Rosie E. Jacobs, of Temple, Berks county, Pa. On their wedding day they started house-keeping in a new home at Allentown. While here Mr. Romig taught these schools: Vera Cruz sec- ondary; Ortt's, in Upper Milford township; Rit- ters and Fairview, in Salisbury township. In 1891, he entered the ministry of the Evangelical Association, serving at the following places: Or- wigsburg, Trappe, Phoenixville, Willliamstown, Shenandoah, Brush Valley, New Columbia, and Jarrettsville, Md. Later he was pastor of Manor circuit while living at Millersville, Pa. Return- ing to Allentown, he taught school again at Yost's and Wilbur's, Salisbury township, and in Cementon, Whitehall township. For two years he was pastor of Bethany United Evangelical church, Bethlehem, Pa., and then taught school again, for the second time Yost's, and then Keiper's grammar school in Hanover township, where he is now teaching his third term. He holds a professional teacher's certificate, obtain- ing same after taking a Saturday course at Muh- lenberg College. He frequently preaches for pas- tors of various denominations, has written for periodicals, and is the author of a book entitled, "Another Bob." The issue by second marriage are these: Joseph V., born Feb. 14, 1899, a ma- chinist; Paul C., born Nov. 28, 1890, a book- keeper in the Philadelphia navy yard; Earl J., born April 25, 1893, a clerk in the office of the American Steel & Wire Company, at Allentown; Ruth E., born Jan. 22, 1895; Raymond A., a stenographer in the office of the Yeager Furniture Company; Ellen Naomi, born Sept. 11, 1899; and Walter W., born Feb. 1, 1903.

Edwin H. Romig, son of Joseph Romig, was born Nov. 26, 1842, died Jan. 30, 1912. He lived at Cedarville and was by trade a miller. He was a member of the Evangelical church at Wescoesville, which he served in the various of- fices. He was buried in the church cemetery. He married, March 19, 1864, Lydia Ann Dor- ney. Issue: Augustus W .; Charles W .; Edwin J .; and Mary, who married James Dorney.

Augustus W. Romig, eldest son of Edwin H. and Lydia A. (Dorney) Romig, was born Aug. 22, 1862, at Dorneysville, South Whitehall town-

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ship. He was educated in the public schools and at the Allentown Business College. In his young manhood he learned the baker's trade at Allen- town, and subsequently the distillery business. In 1885, he joined his father and learned the milling business. A partnership was then formed with his father and brother, Edwin J., under the name of E. H. Romig & Sons, so con- tinuing about five years, when his father and brother retired from the firm. Mr. Romig con- tinued the business alone for about ten years. He then was engaged for about five years in duck raising at Wescoesville, then for the succeeding five years he followed agriculture at Eckert's. He then again operated the mill for one year and at the end of this period, his brother, Edwin J., entered into partnership with him and the business has continued down to the present time (1913). They manufacture the Maple Leaf and Ideal brands of flour. He is a member of the Wescoes- ville Evangelical church. He married, in 1886, Ella Wenner, daughter of George and Susanna (Schmoyer) Wenner. No issue.

WILLIAM A. RONEY.

The founder of this family, who came to America at an early day, was of Scotch-Irish de- scent. He settled in Bucks county, where mem- bers of the family have resided for successive gen- erations. Daniel Roney was a farmer in Bucks county, and he married Rebecca Abeason. Issue : Seven children, the fourth of whom was James Roney.

James Roney, son of Daniel and Rebecca (Abeason) was born in Newtown, Pa., Feb. 15, 1808, and his boyhood days were spent upon his father's farm, his time divided between the farm work and the acquirement of an education. At an early age he learned the trade of shoemaking at Trenton, N. J., and after becoming of age, he went to Caracas, Venezuela, where he had charge of a copper mine. He afterward was superintendent of a smelting plant in Arizona, where at the end of six months, he returned to Penna. and worked at various places, in shoe manufactories. His energies were directed to the manufacture of boots and shoes for persons employed in the coal industries, and in April, 1843, he removed to Allentown where he worked at the bench for a short time. He next began the manufacture of boots and shoes-the pioneer of the business in this borough, and the founder of one of Allentown's present leading industries.

Mr. Roney developed his business along modern lines, adding from time to time all the latest improvements and his factory became a profitable industry. He was a valued factor in the development of the city. He was at the time

of his demise the oldest member of the Presby- terian church at Allentown and he took an active part in forwarding its influence. In politics he was a Whig and later a Republican; was a mem- ber of the town council in 1862, and president of that body during his second term. He became in early life a member of the I. O. O. F. He was an honorable and upright citizen, and left to his family the priceless heritage of an untar- nished name. He retired from business in 1870, with a comfortable competence and made his home in Allentown until his death, Jan., 1899.

James Roney married Miss Tryphena Levan, daughter of Daniel Levan, of Minersville, Pa. She died in 1875. Issue: William A., (history follows) ; Mary ; James R., who married Amanda Balliet ; Elizabeth ; Lewis L .; S. Kate, the widow of Rev. John Urich, and Charles H. (one of the three brothers who served in the Civil War), who was killed while on picket duty.

WILLIAM A. RONEY, son of James and Try- phena (Levan) Roney, was born Oct. 19, 1834, at Minersville, Pa. He attended the public schools, and at an early age learned the trade of shoemaking in his father's factory, in which he worked until 1860. Upon the breaking out of the Civil War he enlisted in Co. E, 5th Penna. Volunteers, and served two months. He then enlisted in Co. D, 4Ist Penna. Volunteers, and served six weeks. He then became a traveling salesman and buyer for his father and upon his father's retirement, he succeeded to the business, taking as a partner, E. D. Hawk, and after a few years Mr. Roney purchased Mr. Hawk's interest in the concern. He then took as a partner Paul Levan, and did business for three or four years as Roney & Levan, then conducted the business alone for about ten years, up to 1880, when his brother, Lewis L. Roney, succeeded him.

Mr. Roney was the first to introduce electric light in Allentown, commencing with 10 arcs, which were operated with power from his fac- tory. He later increased the capacity, eventu- ally organizing a company to light Hamilton street from Sixth to. Ninth, the plant being built at Penn and Maple streets. Mr. Roney retired from business in 1888. In politics he is a Re- publican; was a school director for two terms; is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and unmarried.

HON. DAVID D. ROPER.

Hon. David D. Roper, prominent lawyer and slate operator at Slatington, for many years, was born Oct. 15, 1838, in County Monaghan, Ireland. In boyhood he attended the public schools of his native place, and when seventeen years old, emigrated to the United States with

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

his brother, John Roper. After landing at New York City, he proceeded directly to Clinton, New Jersey, and shortly afterward was appren- ticed to Hon. Eli Bosenberry, an extensive building contractor, for the purpose of learning the trade of carpenter. While pursuing his ap- prenticeship he devoted his evenings to study so as to improve his mind and prepare himself for a business career; and a Lyceum having then been conducted at the place with much encouragement, he became a member and took great interest in its proceedings to develop his knowledge and literary accomplishments.

While employed at Clinton, Mr. Roper en- listed in the Civil War, on Sept. 5, 1862, for nine months as a private in Co. E., of the 31st Regt. N. J. Vol. Inf., and was honorably dis- charged on June 24, 1863. While in the serv- ice he was shot in the leg, and the bullet hav- ing become encysted it remained where it had lodged until his death.

In the Fall of 1863, the demand for carpen- ters and builders at Oil City, Pa., was so great that they were paid $10 a day. Mr. Roper took advantage of this opportunity and he, being an expert mechanic, earned a sufficient sum to pay for his further education; and in this behalf he attended the Allentown Collegiate Academy from 1864 to 1866. During this time he was connected with a cadet company at Allentown, which was commanded by Major Eckendorf, and served as the fifer.

In 1866, he entered the law offices of Edwin Albright, Esq., of Allentown (afterward Pres- ident Judge of Lehigh county), and prosecuted a study of law under his instructions for two years-having also in this time become an ac- tive member of the Lehigh Lyceum and encour- aged its literary endeavors ; and he was admitted to practice on April 13, 1868. Shortly after- ward, he settled at Slatington and established quarters for himself in the offices of Henry Kuntz, a Justice of the Peace, and he continued in the active practice of his profession at Slat- ington, and at Allentown, before the several Courts of Lehigh county, until 1902, when he was obliged to relinquish it in order to devote his entire time to his business affairs in connec- tion with operations in the slate industry. In his legal practice he had become a member of the Bar of Northampton county. During the years from 1870 to 1873, in the early stage of his practice, he was identified with the local newspaper, the Slatington News, and he filled the position of editor in an able manner. It was then a most trying time for the people were calling in a loud manner for retrenchment, re- construction and reform in our National pol-

itics, and the acrimonous discussions in the newspapers brought on a great upheaval in the presidential election.

In 1875, Mr. Roper was one of the organiz- ers in establishing the National Bank of Slat- ington and he served as a director from the be- ginning until his death, besides acting as solicitor for the Bank. He officiated as a school director of the local schools from 1876 to 1879. He was enlisted in the National Guard of Penn- sylvania from 1876 to 1880, having been com- missioned as Quartermaster of the 4th Regi- ment with the rank of Ist Lieutenant. And he represented the county of Lehigh in the Legis- lature for three terms, from 1887 to 1892. In 1892, he became a member of the Scotch-Irish Society of America and retained his membership until he died. In the establishment of the Slatington water works, Mr. Roper took a very active part, and though a great op- portunity was afforded to make a large amount of money in this public enterprise by taking the grant of an abundant flow of superior, running water for himself and his associates, he never- theless secured it for the borough with the ex- press provision as one of the conditions of the sale that it could never be sold, which displayed the integrity and true public spirit of Mr. Roper to such a high degree that the community have ever since commended his unselfish action for the general welfare.

As an experienced builder, Mr. Roper super- intended the erection of the Presbyterian Church, with its beautiful, elevated spire; and he was one of the leading men in establishing the rolling-mill as an additional industry in Slatington.

In 1893, Mr. Roper associated with A. L. Rice and Samuel M. Rice (brothers), of Slat- ington, for the purpose of manufacturing roof- ing slate and they organized the Hazel-Dell Slate Co., of which he became the superintend- ent. The property had a superior locality in a low, marshy dale with an abundance of hazel bushes, and this led the partners to form the word "Hazel-Dell" and select it very appro- priately as a popular name for their slate. The business experience which Mr. Roper had ac- quired in the practice of the law until that time, a period of twenty-five years, enabled him, as the superintendent, to direct the management of the company's operations and to present the superior character of its roofing slate in such a manner as to develop a large and profitable trade which reached out to all parts of the United States and even to foreign countries, and for twenty years the "Hazel-Dell" roofing slate has been recognized as the most popular for its dur-

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 61

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