USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III > Part 88
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Henry Shankweiler was born in Lehigh county and died at South Bethlehem, Pa., in 1912, aged 81 years. He had been a farmer during his earlier years in Upper Macungie township. Later however, he was engaged in the hotel business at South Bethlehem. He was married and had a . number of children. One son, Wilson A., was reared by his mother, Mary Eisenhard, who was a daughter of Henry and Maria (Schmoyer) Eisenhard. She died at Trexlertown, Pa., in May, 1899, aged 74 years.
Wilson A. Shankweiler was born in Lower Macungie, Aug. 31, 1848. He followed the brick laying trade until after he was married, at which time he engaged in farming in the Ma- cungie townships and continued it for seven years. In 1896 he engaged in the hotel business conducting respectively stands located at Fogels- ville, Trexlertown, and Chapmans. He retired in 1908, and has his home with his daughter, Mrs. Tilden Kuhns, proprietor of the American House at Alburtis, Pa.
In 1870 he was married to Elmira Moyer, a daughter of Daniel and Maria (Snyder ) Moyer, of Upper Macungie. She died Dec. 3, 1899, aged 51 years. Their six children follow: Harvey, of Chapmans; Clinton, died aged 14 years; Morris, died in 1900, was married to Minerva Krock, who bore him three children, all deceased ; Andora, the wife of Tilden Kuhns.
They have a daughter, Bertha; Wilson F., of further mention ; and Robert, of Allentown. He is married to Lucy Gernert, and they have a son, Roy.
WILSON F. SHANKWEILER, proprietor of the Guthsville Hotel, was born in South Whitehall township, March 4, 1883. His youth was spent upon the farm and in assisting his father in his business. At the age of twenty years he learned the baking trade with G. H. Rabich, at Allen- town, in whose employ he was for three years. Afterward he was employed by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company at Allentown, and on Nov. 18, 1905, he purchased the Parryville Hotel, in Carbon county, Pa. About one year later he sold it at a profit and removed to his native township, occupying for about six months the old school house at Wescoesville, which had been converted into a dwelling, when he and Til- den Kuhns, purchased the hotel at Guthsville and conducted it jointly for five years. On Nov. 25, 1911, Mr. Shankweiler bought the hotel at public sale, remodeled it and had a steam heating plant installed. Socially he is a member of the P. O. S. of A. at Guthsville; K. G. E., No. 258; the Loyal Order of Buffaloes; and the Order of Tigers, all of Allentown. In politics he is a Democrat.
On July 13, 1901, he was married to Daisy Y. Guldin, daughter of Jeremiah and Amelia (Yoder) Guldin, of Monterey, Berks county. They have these children: Wilson J., and Amelia E. E.
SHELLY FAMILY.
Levi N. Shelly was born July 2, 1827, at Mil- ford Square, Bucks county. He married Mary Bleam, daughter of John Bleam, Nov. 4, 1850, was a farmer, until 1866, when he bought a farm near Dillinger station, and in 1875 he em- barked in the coal, flour and feed business at Dillinger, at that time called Shelly Station, in honor of Mr. Shelly. He conducted a success- ful 'business in connection with his farm for many years. He was a great lover of fine horses and cattle and took especial pride in breeding thor- ough bred "Jerseys" of which he had a fine herd. When his son, Henry, married he farmed the homestead on shares, until 1886 when he bought the adjoining farm and John G. Ackerman, his son-in-law succeeded to the homestead and has since conducted it successfully. Levi N. Shelly died June 3, 1901, and Mrs. Shelly at the age of 85 years, is yet hale and hearty and lives at the old homestead, with Mr. and Mrs. Acker- man. Mr. and Mrs. Shelly were members of the United Brethren Church. They had chil-
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
dren: Kate ( Mrs. John G. Ackerman) ; Henry, Alvira and Mary Shelly, Mary married Eugene L. R. High, Henry married Kate Landis, of Coopersburg. Alvira died young.
SHIMER FAMILY.
The name of Shimer appears in old records in a variety of forms, a few of them being as fol- lows: Scheimer, Schumer, Shymer, Sheymer, Shoimer, Sheimer, etc. The ancestor of the greater number of the Shimers in this country was
Jacob Scheimer, who was born in Ger- sheim, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria, Germany, in 1679, and his will was probated Oct. 5, 1757, his death having occurred about the middle of the preced- ing September. The date of his arrival here is not known, but he was naturalized in 1730, and prior to 1734 paid quit rent to the English government on one hundred acres at Skippack, in Germantown township, Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania. After 1736 he removed to above Redington, Pennsylvania, his land extending to the Lehigh river, and there made his permanent home. For many years the place was known as Shimertown, as may be seen on old maps of the section, but is now Redington, and the orig- inal one hundred and ten acres has never left the possession of the Shimer family. Jacob Scheimer married (first) between 1720 and 1722, Margaret, who died after 1730, a daughter of Heivert and Elizabeth (Ruttinghuysen) Papen, and a granddaughter of William Rutting- huysen, who came from Broig, Holland, settled at Germantown, Pennsylvania, was the first American Mennonite bishop, and established the first paper mill in this country. One of his great- grandsons was David Rittenhouse, the celebrated astronomer. Mr. Scheimer married (second) Elizabeth, whose family name is not on record. By his first marriage he had children: Abraham, who married Lena Westbrook; Anthony; Eliza- beth, married Mr. Vickerson; Mary, married Michael Shoemaker; Catharine, married a Mr. Young; Sarah. By the second marriage there were: Jacob, of further mention; Conrad, born about 1736, died unmarried, December, 1760; Samuel, born about 1738; Edward, of further mention; Peter, born between 1741 and 1749, probably died prior to 1760; Isaac, born August 6, 1749, taken prisoner at Fort Washington, Nov. 16, 1776, his rank at the time being that of third lieutenant, and died April 10, 1838; John, born about 1751, died prior to 1768.
Jacob Shimer, eldest son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Scheimer), was born in Skippack, Pennsylvania, June 4, 1734, and died of small- pox in 1764, his tombstone being the oldest in the
Saucon graveyard. During the Indian massacres of 1755-56 he enlisted under Captain Jacob Arndt, receiving thirteen pounds six shillings for his services. He married, June 13, 1758, Rosina Seip, who was born Sept. 7, 1739, in Michel- stadt, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and came to America when thirteen years of age. They had children: Peter, born Jan. 20, 1760, married (first) Anna Maria Lerch, (second) Elizabeth (Kratzer) Lerch, widow of Philip Lerch; Sam- uel, born Dec. 5, 1762, married, April 24, 1791, Elizabeth Schuelpp (Shilp) ; John, of further mention.
John, son of Jacob and Rosina (Seip) Shimer, was born April 4, 1764. He married Saloma Van Buskirk, and had children: Nathan, died unmarried ; August B., of further mention; Jacob, married Mary More; Charles B., of fur- ther mention; John, married Lydia Schantz; Mary, married Jacob Grim; Elizabeth, married Jacob Apple.
August B., John
son of and Saloma (Van Buskirk) Shimer, was born in Redington, Northampton county, and later lived at Shimers- ville, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and was a farmer. He married Elizabeth Shimer and had children: William L., who married Elizabeth Heller; Abraham S., of further mention; Su- sanna M., died unmarried; Nathan G., married Lydia E. Boyer.
Abraham S., son of August B. and Eliza- beth (Shimer) Shimer, was born in Redington, where he also was a farmer, owning four valu- able farms. He made a specialty of fruit growing and the breeding of fine cattle. He married Clara A. Boyer, born in Broadway, New Jersey, and they had children: B. Luther, of further mention ; Ira, married Lillian Danbrook ; Mary C., married Robert B. Keys, Jr .; David G., mar- ried Laura Fatzinger; Noah A .; Clara E., mar- ried Jacob Green; Aaron B., married Florence Weidner.
B. Luther, eldest child of Abraham S. and Clara A. (Boyer) Shimer, was born in Red- inton, Jan. 7, 1868. The first twelve years of his. life were spent there, where he also attended the public schools, then the Swartz Academy at Bethlehem and the Preparatory School of Muh- lenberg College; the Wyoming Seminary. He matriculated at the Agricultural College at Am- herst, Massachusetts, in 1884, was a prize winner in the oratorical contest of the sophomore class, one of the speakers at the commencement exer- cises, and was graduated with the degree of Bach- elor of Sciences, Class of 1888. He also attained prominence in the athletic field and in various other directions. During his senior year he was captain of the football team. In 1890 he became
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part owner of the Mount Airy Park Farm, near West Bethlehem, where he has raised pure-bred cattle and poultry. He has won prizes at the World's Fair at Chicago, and at numerous county and state fairs. Three farms have been pur- chased adjoining the original farm to the west, and this has been laid out in streets and building plots. The place is now well established and many heads of departments of the steel works have formed a colony and this section promises to become the most prominent section of Bethlehem, and through his efforts West Bethlehem has been developed from Seventh avenue west. Mr. Shimer has donated an entire block, this to be known as the Mount Airy Park, and to be for the public benefit. Deeply interested in the cause of edu- cation, he has offered to the school board of Han- over township a large site for the erection of a public school building. For many years Mr. Shim- er was a staunch supporter of the Republican party, but he has recently joined the ranks of the Progressives. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. He is also a member of the Ayrshire Breeders' Association of America ; Bethlehem Grange, No. 504, Patrons of Husbandry.
Mr. Shimer married, in Springfield, Massachu- setts, Lena M. Guertin, who was born in Am- herst, Massachusetts, educated there in the public schools and attended Oak Grove Seminary. They have children : Hazel G .; Pearl L .; Ethel May ; Ernest Grant ; Jeannette L .; and Ellwood W. F.
Charles B., son of John and Saloma (Van Buskirk) Shimer, married Anna Schantz, and had children: Elvina, married Henry Rie- gel ; Franklin S., married (first) Sarah Ann Shif- fert, (second) Tillie Gernet ; Edward S., mar- ried Anna Catherine Kramer; Charles S., mar- ried Rebecca Hillegas; Dr. Jacob S., married Caroline Smith; Hiram S., of further mention; Alexander S., married Lizzie E. Bieber, and died Oct. 5, 1906; Sarah A., married Gideon F. Eg- ner; Llewellyn S., who became a county com- missioner, married Clara V. Everhart; David S.
Hiram S., son of Charles B. and Anna (Schantz) Shimer, was born at Shimersville, Pennsylvania, Feb. 15, 1838, and died at his home in Allentown, Lehigh county, Feb. 15, 1907. He was educated in the local public schools and Allentown Academy, and upon at- taining his majority, held a position as clerk in a general store at Schnecksville, for three years. In 1862 he removed to Allentown, which was his home from that time. Until 1873 he was a member of the firm of Shimer Brothers, general merchandise, then formed the partnership of Shimer & Laub, the other partner being Owen H. Laub. They established a carpet store at No. 632 Hamilton street, with which Mr. Shimer was
connected twenty years. He then sold his inter- est to his son, Joseph P. Shimer, and to Frank D. Weaver, the new firm name becoming Shimer, Laub & Weaver. Upon the death of Mr. Laub in 1909, the firm became Shimer & Weaver. Mr. Shimer was one of the organizers of the Lehigh Valley Trust & Safe Deposit Company, and at the time of his death was vice-president of this corporation. He was one of the organizers of the Adelaide Silk Mills; a stockholder in the Al- lentown Steam Heating Plant; president of the Fairview Cemetery Association; and a director of the Allen Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He was a charter member of the Livingston Club; and a member of Barger Lodge, No. 333, Free and Accepted Masons; Allen Chapter, No. 23, Royal Arch Masons; Allen Commandery, No. 20, Knights Templar. Republican in polit- ical views, and a member and official of St. John's Lutheran church. June 19, 1863, Mr. Shimer enlisted in Captain Gregory's company, and served until August I of the same year. He married S. Emma, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah Wittman. Issue: Annie W., who died single on Sept. 13, 1887; and Joseph P., of fur- ther mention.
Joseph P., only son of Hiram S. and S. Emma (Wittman) Shimer, was born in Allen- town, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1872. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and the Muhlenberg College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1891. Ir. 1893 he suc- ceeded his father in the carpet and drapery store of the latter, as above mentioned. He and his family are members of the St. John's Lutheran church, in which he has been a member of the church council for a number of years. He is a member of Barger Lodge, No. 333, Free and Accepted Masons ; Allen Chapter, No. 203, Royal Arch Masons; Allen Commandery, No. 20, Knights Templar ; Rajah Temple, Ancient Ara- bic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and the prominent social clubs of the city. Mr. Shim- er married (first) 1896, Martha L. Dutt, (sec- ond), 1904, Mellie G. Dutt, a sister of his first wife. By his first marriage he had children : Madeleine D. and Harriet M. Only child by the second marriage, Martha G.
Edward Shimer, son of Jacob and Elizabeth Scheimer, was born at Shimertown, now Reding- ton, Feb. 28, 1741, and died Feb. 16, 1815. He learned the trade of a saddler, but it is not on record that he ever followed this occupation. He appears to have preferred the purchase of land and the intelligent management of the same, at the time of his death the assessed valuation of his property amounting to one thousand two hundred and seven pounds, this being one of the
ITES rob tur na
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
largest individual properties in the entire county. He married, 1765, Rosina (Seip) Shimer, widow of his brother, Jacob Shimer. They had chil- dren: Jacob, of further mention; Isaac, born May 6, 1769, married, 1796, Susanna Beyl, a sister of the wife of his brother Jacob; Abraham, born April 7, 1774, died in infancy; Susanna, born Feb. 22, 1776, married (first) James Bing- ham, (second) Dr. Peter Von Steuben.
Jacob, son of Edward and Rosina (Seip) (Shimer) Shimer, was born Jan. 1, 1767. He married Elizabeth Beyl, and had children: John B., of further mention; Joseph, married Cather- ine Hubler; Edward, married Hannah Lerch; Isaac, married Kate Apple; Jacob, married Fay- ette Keck; Elizabeth, married Michael Butz; Samuel, married Anna Kunes; Abraham, mar- ried Margaretta Johnson.
John B., son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Beyl) Shimer, married Mary Schweitzer, and had children: Elizabeth, married John L. Rie- gel; William, married Susan L. Heckman; George, married Mary Becker; Samuel, married Maria McSwain; Mary Ann, married Christian T. Roth; James O., married Elmira D. Dubs; Sarah J., married Dr. James G. Mensch; Jacob T., of further mention; Robert A., married Sa- billa Baker.
Jacob Theodore, son of John B. and Mary (Schweitzer) Shimer, was born in Shim- ersville, Nov. 28, 1834, and died May 25, 1909. In early life he was a manufacturer, and super- intendent of the Delaware Rolling Mill, at Phil- lipsburg, New Jersey, the trade he learned hav- ing been that of a machinist. Later he was a manufacturer of hosiery at Bethlehem, and retired from business life some years prior to his death. He was a vestryman in St. John's Lutheran church, helped to organize St. Mark's church in Bethlehem, and was for many years a vestryman and deacon in Grace church in Bethlehem. He married (first), May 4, 1858, Anna Elizabeth, born May 12, 1835, died Feb. 4, 1880, a daugh- ter of Reuben and Elizabeth Reiss, and they had children: Ursula V., who died at the age of five years; Allen R., of further mention; Frederick H., lives in Los Angeles, California, married Clara Getz; Harry D., married Emma Katten- bach, and resides in Muskegon, Michigan; Floyd B., married Mary McGough, and resides in Lans- ford,. Pennsylvania; Clarence T., married Anna Weiss and lives in Allentown. Mr. Shimer mar- ried, (second) Louisa R. Weaver, who died three months after her husband, and they had children : Bessie U., married Arthur W. Hill; Ralph W., in the employ of the Bethlehem Steel Company as electrician.
Allen R., son of Jacob Theodore and
Anna Elizabeth (Reiss) Shimer, was born in Philadelphia, Oct. 23, 1863. Upon the comple- tion of his education, which was acquired in the public schools, he became associated with his fa- ther in the manufacture of hosiery, being superin- tendent of the Excelsior Knitting Mills for a perior of fourteen years. Since 1893 he has been connected with fraternal insurance organization, and is deputy supervisor of the Bethlehem Fra- ternal Mystic Circle. He is also an official in the Supreme Body of this order, since 1905. In 1894 he and his father built a fine double residence, in which he is living at the present time. He is su- perintendent of the Men's Bible school since 1897, at the Grace Lutheran church of Bethlehem, was the organizer and is now superintendent of the Men's class, which has a membership of eighty- seven men over the age of eighteen years.
Mr. Shimer married, Sept. 6, 1888, Ella M., daughter of Dr. James G. and Matilda (Hille- gass) Hensch, and they have had children: Jacob Manton, a die sinker with the Bethlehem Steel Company ; Russell Mensch, a teacher of music in Bethlehem; Ruth Miriam, with her parents ; Stanley Reiss, still attending school. Mr. Shimer is the author and compiler of a history and geneal- ogy of the Shimer family, and had served as president of the Shimer Family Association since its organization.
John B. Shimer, son of John, was born March 7, 1801, and died Nov. 21, 1880. He married Lydia Schantz, born 1805, died 1850. Reuben Shimer, son of John B., married Elemina M., daughter of Owen Saeger. They had four chil. dren : John F .; George R., deceased; Mary A .; and Henry S., assistant general manager of the N. Y. Life Insurance Company, at Vienna, Aus- tria.
JOHN F. SHIMER received his education in the local schools, and at Providence, R. I., after which he served as a salesman at Allentown, and chief bookkeeper at Philadelphia until 1885. Then he was in the wholesale grocery busines at Phila- delphia as a member of Kleckner, Shimer & Company, for three years. Upon selling his in- terest he became the cashier at the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad station, and this responsible position he has filled until now. He was married co Grace Barnes, daughter of James P. and Mary (Shimer) Barnes, of Allentown, and they have one child, a daughter, M. Margaret.
George Reuben Shimer, the second son of Reu- ben S., was born at Allentown, Aug. 16, 1861, and died at Philadelphia, Jan. 26, 1886; Mary Alice, the daughter, was born at Allentown, Nov. 6, 1865, and died at Philadelphia, Feb. 6, 1884; and Henry Saeger, the youngest son, was born at Allentown, Oct. 10, 1867, located at Boston,
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Mass., where he became interested in the manu- facturing business and is president of the Saeger Cut Sole Company.
Franklin Schantz Shimer, son of Charles, was born Oct. 12, 1829, at Shimersville, where he was reared and educated. He carried on a gen- eral store at Macungie for many years, and died at Shimersville, Nov. 26, 1900. He was married to Sarah Shiffert, daughter of John Shiffert, of Macungie, and they had three children: Charles Oliver; Emma, married Jonas Gerhard; and Katie A. His wife was born April 27, 1831, and died Nov. 14, 1878. After her decease, he mar- ried Tillie Gernerd, of Breinigsville, and they had a son, Charles Nathan.
After Mr. Shimer's death, the widow and son moved to California.
CHARLES OLIVER SHIMER, prominent business man at Macungie for many years, was born in the borough, Aug. 4, 1853, and there he was brought up. He received his education in the local schools and at the Millersville State Normal School, after which he engaged in the cattle business at Macungie and Allentown, which he carried on extensively for upwards of twenty years. His large experience in this business led to his prominent identification with the Arbo- gast & Bastian Company for many years until his death. He was also interested in the Citizens Bank of Allentown, and served as a director. While attending to his duties in the bank he was stricken with apoplexy, from which he died in the home of his brother-in-law, John Erdman, in the city on March 9, 1910.
Mr. Shimer was married to Caroline E. Sing- master, daughter of Alexander Singmaster, of Macungie, and they had three daughters: Min- nie, educated at Macungie and the Moravian Seminary, married to Milton M. Moyer, and they have four children: Esther, Rhea, William, and Reuben; Lizzie, educated at Macungie, Moravian Seminary, and Keystone State Normal School, taught school in Macungie, Allentown, Atlantic City, New Mexico and Panama, and while at Panama called home on account of fa- ther's death, afterward married to Alvin Haynes, of New York; and Sadie, educated at Macungie and Keystone State Normal School, taught school in Lehigh and Carbon counties, and married William Long, of Lehighton.
Mrs. C. Oliver Shimer is a daughter of Alex- ander Singmaster, who was a very prosperous merchant at Macungie, in the coal, grain and lumber business for many years. He was born Nov. 27, 1834, and he died there Aug. 11, 1911, the last survivor of his father's family. He was married to Hannah Keck, daughter of John, of Upper Macungie, and they had three children:
Caroline, above; Elmira, married John Erdman ; and Caleb, married Alice Neymeyer. [For an- cestors of Alexander Singmaster, see "Singmaster Family."]
John Keck, the father of Mrs. Shimer's moth- er, was born in 1802 on the homestead farm of 150 acres in Upper Macungie, near Fogelsville, and there he was reared as a farmer. He subse- quently purchased the plantation and carried it on until he died in 1847. He was married to Catharine Schantz, daughter of Franklin, of Schantz's Mill, in South Whitehall, and they had 15 children, four having died young: Eph- raim; Sarah, married Peter Weiler; John, mar- ried Sarah Faringer; Hannah, above; Caroline, married John Lichtenwalner; Mary Ann, mar- ried Reuben Gross; Clara, married Alfred Heff- ner ; George, died single, aged 30 years; Fannie, married William Rems; Keziah, married Charles Schwenk; and Priscilla, married Alfred S. Heff- ner. His wife died in 1847, aged 40 years. John Keck was a son of Conrad, of Upper Macungie.
LLEWELLYN SCHANTZ SHIMER, son Charles B., was born at Shimersville, Aug. 29, 1852, and educated in the public schools and Muhlenberg College, after which he served as a clerk in stores for seven years. In 1881, he en- gaged in the store business at Shimersville and carried it on until 1898, when he sold it to H. S. Kern. He then was engaged in the iron ore and lumber business for some years. Mr. Shimer is a director of the Goshenhoppen Fire Insurance Company, of the Perkiomen National Bank, and Macungie Electric Light Company, of which latter he is treasurer. He is a member of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society, and of the Knights of Pythias; and Golden Eagles; Emaus Mercantile Club; and the Zionsville Lutheran church. He is a Republican in politics, and served one term as county commissioner.
In 1880, he was married to Clara Everhard, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Van Buskirk) Everhard, of Sellersville, and they have two children : Howard E. and Harry Winfield. Howard was born in 1881, educated at Perkio- men Seminary, and Muhlenberg College, became a teacher and superintendent of schools at New- ton, N. J. He married Lucille Miller, and they have two sons, Charles and Samuel. Harry W., born in 1883, was educated at the same institu- tions and became a teacher in the Northampton high school.
SHENTON FAMILY.
Francis Shenton was born in Derbyshire, England, in 1826, his parents were Edward and Elizabeth (Fearn) Shenton. He spent his boy- hood days in his native county, received a good
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common school education and became familiar with the slate business in its details. In 1847 he married Miss Emma Appleby. In 1850 they bade farewell to their native land and embarked for the states, where he subsequently played a most important role in the development of the slate industry. After spending two years in New York City, he went to Fayetteville, N. C., where he remained until 1855. He later located in Philadelphia and remained there until 1861, when he removed to Slatedale and became inter- ested in the Locke Slate Company, of which, in later years, he was the sole proprietor. He was of an inventive turn of mind and made a number of improvements in slate manufacturing ma- chinery, and invented the school slate shaving and dressing machine. These inventions brought him a good income. To him and his first wife, Em- ma Appleby, were born seven children: Eliza- beth, wife of L. J. Fick, of Detroit, Mich., who died in 1903; George, residing at Carlisle, Pa. Frank E., of Slatedale ; Robert, who died in 1891. William, of Reading; Annie, widow of Frank U. Peter, of Newside, and Thomas H., of Slate- dale. He was married a second time to Matilda Shipman, who with her only child, lived only for a brief time. In 1872 he was married to Mary D. Campbell, a daughter of John Camp- bell. They had three children: Howard, a post- office clerk, at Slatington; Dora, a public school teacher ; the other child dying in infancy.
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