USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III > Part 92
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Returning to Fogelsville Dr. Slough again associated himself with Dr. Helfrich. Not long after, however, the partnership was dissolved be- cause of the removal of Dr. Helfrich to Kutz- town.
In order to widen the scope of his activities Dr. Slough on Oct. 15, 1875, removed from Fogels- ville to Allentown, establishing and conducting in connection with his practice of medicine and surgery a homeopathic pharmacy at the northeast corner of Ninth and Hamilton streets. The step was a wise one, as the sequel has shown later. For the greater convenience of his large clientele as well as his own, he removed his office and pharmacy next door to the home where he has resided for upwards of twenty years, and altogeth- er the combined arrangements at Nos. 120-122 North Eighth street, are ideal for a physician's purpose.
He was health officer of the city in 1883; president of the local pension board during Cleve- land's first administration ; physician for the poor of Allentown for three years; to say nothing of
his many public services, Dr. Slough by his ability and unselfish devotion to duty, had proven him- self a useful and progressive citizen of the highest type.
Dr. Slough, who had written many papers for publication bearing on his profession, including an interesting history of homeopathy, was a mem- ber of the American Institute of Homeopathy, the Pennsylvania Homeopathic Medical Society, the Homeopathic Pharmaceutical Association of Pennsylvania and the National Association of Pennsylvania and the National Association of Retail Druggists of Lehigh County. The gover- nor of Pennsylvania appointed him one of the original trustees of the State Homeopathic Hos- pital at Rittersville, Pa., a position he served with marked ability and faithfulness up to the time of his death.
Dr. Franklin J. Slough married in October, 1864, Miss Agnes M. Helfrich, daughter of the late Dr. Henry J. and Hester (Herman) Hel- frich, of Fogelsville. Issue: Libbie O .; Minnie H. A .; Lulu May ; and Joseph C. Slough.
Mrs. Slough comes from an old and dis- tinguished family, being a descendant from four generations of Reformed ministers. In her al- most exclusive and able management of the phar- macy she has shown many of the splendid charac- teristics of her ancestors, and always has been the ideal wife and mother and a superior woman of business. Their accomplished daughters are graduates of the Allentown College for Women. The eldest, Mrs. Libbie O., wife of Horace Luckenbach, of Bethlehem, also graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital, of Chicago; while Minnie H. A. passed the ex- amination of the State Pharmaceutical Board, and is a practical druggist. Lulu May is the wife of Paul B. Straub, of Pittsburgh. Dr. Slough has an interesting family of social promi- nence to which he had been thoroughly devoted. He died on April 2, 1914, in his 73d year. In his death the city has lost one of its most promi- nent, respected and able citizens. He was also one of the oldest practitioners in the county. His funeral was largely attended and he was laid to rest in Fairview cemetery.
Joseph C. Slough, son of Dr. Franklin J. and Agnes M. ( Helfrich) Slough, was born Sept. 5, 1875, at Fogelsville, Pa. He was educated in the private schools of Allentown; graduated at Muhlenberg College in 1896, and from the Law Department of the University of Pennsyl- vania; was admitted to the bar July 4, 1899. In politics he is a Republican ; was elected Alder- man of the Fourth ward in 1907. He holds membership in the L. A. and B. P. O. E., No.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
130, of Allentown. He is a member of St. John's Lutheran church.
WILLIAM C. J. SLOUGH, M.D., son of Joseph and Anna (Knerr) Slough, was born May 26, 1846, at Claussville, Pa. He acquired his ele- mentary education in the public schools, after which he attended the Keystone State Normal School. After graduating he read medicine with his brother, Dr. F. J. Slough, at Fogelsville, Pa., then took a course at the Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia, graduating in 1869. He then practiced at Fogelsville until 1881, when he removed to Emaus, where he built up a large practice. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. He served as a school director for six years; as a councilman three years, and is a mem- ber of the Board of Health for nine years.
Dr. William C. J. Slough married (first) Em- ma Fried, who died in 1878. He married (sec- ond) Mrs. Sarah (Snyder) Unger, daughter of David and Sarah Snyder. Issue: Frank Unger, died in 1898; and Helen Unger Slough, a teacher at Emaus, Pa.
Lucus Schlauch was born in Macungie and died in Upper Macungie township, and is buried on Union cemetery, Allentown, Pa. He was a butcher and drover. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. His wife was Sarah Mohr. They had the following children: Lafenus; Frank L .; Amanda; Edwin; Maria; Sarah; Granville, of Allentown; Malinda; Emeline; and Clara.
Frank L. Schlouch, a retired citizen of Siegers- ville, was born Feb. 15, 1838. He obtained his early education in the common schools, was reared upon the farm and was engaged in butchering with his father and also was a drover. He came to Siegersville about 1872, and, with the excep- tion of eight years, has always resided there. He conducted the Siegersville Hotel for twenty-eight years, (from 1875 to 1903) and prior to that time conducted the Longswamp Hotel for eight years (from 1867 to 1875). In 1903 he retired to private life, living in a residence at Siegers- ville built by Tilghman Sauerwein. Mr. Schlouch is a member of the I. O. O. F., Knights of Pythias, and of the Lutheran Church.
He was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Fritch, and they had children : Eugene, and Mary, widow of Charles Sieger. He was married (second) to Abbey Hollenbach, widow of Jacob Kern. No issue.
SCHMITT (NOW SMITH) FAMILY.
Christian Schmitt was a pioneer in the upper end of Lehigh county. The first mention of his name appears in a document in possession of W. H. Reitz, at Lynnport, which reads as follows:
"LYNN TOWNSHIP, Nov. 12, 1753.
"I do assign and set over all my right, title and interest in this bill of sale unto my brother-in-law, Matthias Schutz, as witness my hand.
"(Signed) Christian Schmitt.
"Witness :
"John Everett
"Andreas Everett"
The next mention of his name appears in the list of members of the Heidelburg church in 1757. On Nov. 5, 1765, he took out two land warrants comprising 38 acres and 90 acres, re- spectively. On May 29, 1766, Henry Smith, took out two warrants, one of IIO acres and an- other for 13 acres. All of the above land was situated in Heidelberg township. Christian Schmitt had these children: Christian, Jr .; Mi- chael; Susanna, intermarried with John Miller, and they lived in Heidelberg; and another son, who tradition states lived at Stroudsburg, Pa.
Christian Schmitt, Jr., locally known as "Der Blind Schmidt," was born April 2, 1762, and lived upon a farm near Pleasant Corner. There he died on Aug. 26, 1847, in the 86th year of his age. His wife, Catharine Seidler, was born on Christmas Day, 1764, and died June 2, 1839, in her 75th year. They were married for 53 years and had nine children. They were farmers and their homestead passed to their two sons, John and Christian; and the next owner was William F. Smith, from whom it descended to his son, Henry F., who sold it in 1890 to Lewis B. Reitz.
John Schmidt was born Nov. 9, 1798, and died Oct. 9, 1883, aged 84 years and II months. In 1800 he built the house upon his homestead near Pleasant Corner, which his granddaughter, the widow of L. B. Reitz, now owns. Magdalena Miller, his wife, was born Nov. 13, 1803, and died Feb. 3, 1876, in her 73d year. Their four children were: Henry, who died small ; William F .; Jeroma, married Elias Werley; and Maria, married Solomon Best.
Philip Schmidt was born April 7, 1801, and he died upon his farm in Heidelberg, Jan. 31, 1877, in his 76th year of age. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in 1807, and died in 1893, in her 87th year. Among their children were: Adaline, Sallie, Mrs. Penrose Reidy, Sophia, and a son who died in infancy.
William F. Smith, son of John, was born March 10, 1835. He owned the homestead farm near Pleasant Corner, and there he operated a distillery for many years. He was also a drover. In all his undertakings he was successful. For many years he was identified with the State Mili- tia, as a member of the Light Horse Company, his uniform and saddle being still treasured as
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
heirlooms in the possession of his son, Henry F. Victor J., Clara M., and George R. The grand- He and family were members of the Reformed parents of Mrs. Smith were Jonas and Barbara (Smith) Reitz. congregation of the Heidelberg church, where they are buried. He served this church on its consistory for many years. He married Leanna, a daughter of Stephen Bachman (whose history appears elsewhere in this volume). She was born March 29, 1839, and died July 22, 1893. Their three children are: Amanda, widow of Lewis B. Reitz; Henry F .; and Sarah, wife of Irwin P. Kemmerer.
HENRY F. SMITH, proprietor of the Pleasant Corner Hotel and Summer House, in Heidelberg township, Lehigh county, was born April 1, 1869. He worked upon a farm until he was 22 years old. In 1889, he became a distiller and carried the business on until 1891 ; and he was proprietor of the store and hotel at Best Station from 1897 to 1899. After living private for one year in his native township ( Heidelberg), he engaged in the drover business and followed it for several years, when he again engaged in farming and continued it for seven years. From 1903 to 1905 he lived upon the homestead farm, and in connection with farming operated the distillery producing 45 barrels of applejack annually. In the year 1905 he formed a partnership with Joseph H. Shirey, trading under the firm name of Smith & Shirey, and they purchased the store, hotel and stock at Pleasant Corner (Jordan P. O.), from G. A. Bachman, and carried on business under that name until 1909, when Mr. Smith became the sole owner and proprietor.
Pleasant Corner Hotel is a modern building with 30 large rooms. It has large double porches which are much enjoyed by the many summer boarders and guests who come there from the cities during the summer months. Mr. Smith and his estimable wife enjoy the reputation of provid- ing their tables with the best of eatables, most of which they themselves raise upon their own land.
He is actively connected with the Central Lodge, No. 636, I. O. O. F., Pleasant Corner Encampment, and the K. G. E. He is likewise active and prominent as a Republican of the coun- ty, being repeatedly mentioned for county offices. At the age of 21 years he was elected the as- sistant assessor of Heidelberg and later he was a supervisor for seven years, and constable for four years. Frequently he is a delegate to county con- ventions; he was appointed postmaster of the Jordan P. O. in 1906, and has served this office since that time.
On Jan. 6, 1889, he married Mary R. Reitz, daughter of Phaon and Lucy ( Hunsicker) Reitz, of Lynnport, Pa. They have seven children, viz : Wilmer F., Harvey H., Clayton W., Irwin P.,
Michael Schmidt, son of Christian, the pioneer, the other line of this large family, was born Dec. 31, 1769. He owned much land and lived in Heidelberg where John Gildner now lives, and there he died March 13, 1844, in his 75th year. His wife, Maria Barbara Wehr, was born April 9, 1776, and died May 27, 1832. They are buried on the old graveyard at the Heidelberg church. Their children were: Henry, who set- tled in Indiana ; Michael, who settled in Luzerne county, Pa .; John, remained upon the homestead ; Christian, who settled in Indiana; Elias, who moved to Ohio; Joseph, died at Slatington, Pa .; Salome, married John Neff; Elizabeth, married Henry Handwerk; Julia, married David Mantz ; Esther, married Michael Peter, and they lived at Lehighton, Pa.
John Schmidt, son of Michael, who remained upon the homestead, died there at an advanced age. Catharine Miller, his wife, was born Oct. 18, 1801, and died July 2, 1883, in her 82d year. Both are buried at the Heidelberg church, of which they are members. Their children were: Elizabeth, wife of David Peter; David; Aaron ; Edwin; Owen ; and Eli.
Aaron Schmidt, of Heidelberg township, was born Sept. 27, 1829. In early life he was a car- penter and afterwards farmed a part of the home- stead of his grandfather, Michael Schmidt. In 1856 he built a log-house 16x18 feet upon this farm, and in 1862 he built the present dwelling house ; and the barn he built in 1853. He was married in 1855 to Susanna Matilda Mantz. They never had any children but reared Lewis D. Leiby, for whom they stood as sponsors. Mrs. Schmidt died a number of years ago, and Mr. Schmidt was blind from 1909 until his death on March 7, 1913, aged 83 years. He had his home with his god-child, Mr. Leiby, at Germans- ville, who tenderly cared for him in his declining years.
Levi Smith, a native of Heidelberg township, was born in the year 1836. He followed farm- ing for the greater part of his life and for a few years he was employed by the Lehigh Valley Rail- road Company. When the Civil War broke out he responded to his country's call. He was a member of the Reformed congregation of Heidel- berg church. He was married to Louisa Ritter, a daughter of Jeremiah Ritter. She was born March 27, 1834, and died July 12, 1873. They had two children, Tilghman, and Mary, wife of Alvin Hauseman, of Lehighton.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
TILGHMAN SMITH, proprietor of the Laurel House, Cementon, Pa., was born in Lowhill township, Dec. 22, 1868. He was reared on the farm and resided in Upper Macungie for a num- ber of years. When about 18 years of age he started to work for the Coplay Cement Company and worked for them for 13 years. Later for ten years he was employed by Jacob Weidman & Company, in their bottling establishment at Ce- menton. In 1909, he became proprietor of the Laurel House at the corner of Main and Second streets. This hotel has twenty rooms. Socially he belongs to the F. O. E., No. 110, of Allen- town ; I. O. O. F., No. 1026, of Siegfrieds. He is also a member of the Loyal Protective Associa- tion of the same order, of which he is a past master ; P. O. S. of A., No. 305, of Cementon, of which he was financial secretary for six years. He was elected twice to represent the order at the state convention. In politics he believes in the principles of the Democratic party. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, having served as deacon in the Unionville and Cementon church. In 1893, he was married to Emma Anthony, a daughter of Jacob and Salome (Steinmetz) An- thony. This union was blessed with five chil- dren: Mabel L., Roy V., Helen S., Alice M., and Alvin A.
On Jan. 30, 1732, the proprietaries of the province of Pennsylvania granted Casper Wister a patent for 633 acres of land lying in Philadel- phia county. By the subsequent subdivision of Philadelphia county the larger portion of this tract of land was brought within the confines of Maxatawny township, Berks county, close by the borders of Lehigh. In October, 1734, Casper Wister and his wife Catharine conveyed 123 acres of this land to one Jost Henry Sasamon- housen, "Blacksmith," who on March 5, 1761, in confirmation of his title to the same, obtained a patent deed for it from the proprietaries, John and Thomas Penn. On Dec. 2, 1761, Jost Henry Sasamonhousen and his wife Petronilla conveyed the same to Henry Sasamonhousen, one of their sons, and on April 19, 1775, Henry Sasamon- housen and Elizabeth, his wife, conveyed it to George Smith, of Macungie township, Northamp- ton (now Lehigh) county. From George Smith it descended to his son, George Smith, Sr., from him to his son, George Smith, Jr., and from him to his son, George L. Smith, who is the present owner and occupant.
Two George Schmits came from Germany to America in the fall of 1749, one on the ship "Pa- tience," on September 19th, and the other on the ship "Leslie," on October 7th. Other George Schmits came in other years, but the weight of
circumstances favors the theory that one of the two arrivals named was the George Smith who came into possession of this tract of land in 1775. Landing at Philadelphia, he in time removed in- land with the incoming drift of homeseekers, and settled where now is Fogelsville, with the pres-' ent bounds of Lehigh county. He and his wife are interred in a family burying ground on the farm which he acquired in \775, but as their tombstones have long ago crumbled away it can- not be ascertained when either was born or how long they lived. Their son, Joh. Georg Schmit, was born Feb. 12, 1770, while they yet lived in Lehigh county. He married Margaret Klein, born April 10, 1768, and in course of time came into possession of the farm, improved it and lived upon it until the end of his days. He died Jan. 21, 1855, and his wife Margaret Oct. 23, 1850, both being buried in' the same little burying ground that contains the unmarked graves of their parents.
When Joh. Georg Schmit came into possession of the farm, the house upon it was a massive stone structure, built in 1740, probably with a view of not merely using it for a house but in case of emergency as a fort as well. This was occupied until in 1841, when it was abandoned for a new and larger house, also of stone, which is the Smith family homestead of to-day. From the information at hand it does not appear fully what family Joh. Georg Schmit and his wife Margaret had, but it is definitely known that they had a son, George, designated as George Schmidt, Jr., and another named John, who lived near Claussville, and there raised a family, among whom were several sons. They also had a daugh- ter, Elizabeth, who died Oct. 13, 1804, at the age of six and one-half years; and a son, Jona- than, who died May 1, 1816, in his twenty-third year, both of whom are buried in the aforemen- tioned little family graveyard.
George Schmidt, Jr., was born April 25, 1800, on the old homestead in Maxatawny, where he always lived. The country becoming Anglicized by this time, the spelling of the name with him changed from Schmidt to Smith. He married Lydia Leibensperger, born Nov. 10, 1798, in Lehigh county, and to them were born seven children, namely : Stephen, Caroline, David, George L., Alfred, James and Rebecca. Stephen died March 27, 1896, leaving a widow, one son and four daughters. Caroline died Jan. 17, 1838, in her tenth year. David married Catherine Adams, engaged at farming in Lehigh county, and died, leaving a widow and two sons. . Al- fred died March 11, 1847, in his seventh year. James, who was a physician, died unmarried, May 8, 1861. in his twenty-sixth year. Rebecca married
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Org. Smith
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
John Kump, of Maxatawny township, who died, survived by his widow and three children. The remains of Caroline, Alfred and James rest in the little family burying ground on the Smith ancestral farm. George Smith, Jr., died Sept. I, 1890. During his active years he was one of the leading spirits of his locality, enterprising and successful in his own affairs, and bearing his full share of the duties and responsibilities of citizen- ship, and during his long life-time was respected and honored by those who knew him. His wife died Feb. 3, 1865, twenty-five years before the death of her husband, and the two rest side by side in the family graveyard.
Peter Smith came from Macungie township upon a farm near Bath, Northampton county, and there died and probably is buried at the church at Hecktown, Pa. He had children: Jonathan, Peter, and Mrs. Ludwig Bartholomew.
Jonathan, son of Peter, married Magdalena Fehnel and he used to visit the Steininger and Schwoyer families in the western end of Lehigh county. They were relatives. The children of Jonathan and Magdalena Smith were: Rebecca, married Joseph Edelman; Mary, married John Krock; Polly, married Elias Silfies; Susan, mar- ried Reuben Weaver; Lydia, married Reuben Edelman; Jonathan, married Sallie Siegfried ; and John, who is still alive and has his home at Northampton, Pa.
David Smith was a farmer in Moore town- ship, Northampton county. The family were members of the Reformed Church. He and his wife are buried at Deeter's church. They had these children: Tilghman, lived in Allen town- ship, at Hanoverville; Mary was born in 1813, died unmarried in 1877; Elizabeth, married to John Matchett; Reuben, who settled in Iowa; Peter, who had sons: James, Joseph, and Ben- jamin; and James J.
James J. Smith, son of David, was born Jan. 14, 1827, died Aug. 28, 1879. He is buried at the Schoenersville church, of which he was a member of the Reformed congregation. Earlier in life he was a distiller, later a farmer in Han- over township, Lehigh county.
He was married to Belinda Flick, a niece of Paul Flick. She was born May 6, 1829, died Oct. 2, 1906, in her seventy-eighth year. They had these children: Benjamin; Emma, married to Benjamin Hockman; Alavesta, married to Benjamin Weaver; George, died small ; Alfred J., of Mauch Chunk; Mary, married to George Kostenbader; Rebecca, deceased, was married to William Hitchcock; Wilson J .; Peter A., of Harrisburg, Pa .; Ella, married (first) Charles
Strohmeyer, and (second) Jacob Miller; Elmer M., and Harry, of Spring City, Pa.
WILSON J. SMITH, manufacturer and whole- sale confectioner, of Catasauqua, was born in Moore township, Northampton county, August 26, 1861. He attended the township schools and the Weaversville Academy. The first eighteen years of his life were spent upon the farm, after which he learned the baking trade and followed it for twelve years. Of the twelve years he worked as foreman for five years and the seven remaining years he was in business himself at Catasauqua. In 1894, Mr. Smith connected him- self with his brother Elmer in the confectionery business at Bethlehem, and three years later he began the business on his own account at Cat- asauqua. He continued it successfully until 1906, then admitted his nephew, E. J. Smith, under the name of "The W. J. Smith Company." This firm enjoys a large jobbing trade; employ ten people; and have their establishment located on Race street, Catasauqua. In 1911, Mr. Smith was one of the incorporators of the Catasauqua Silk Company and is its treasurer. He and his nephew own an excellent farm of seventy acres in Hanover township:
Mr. Smith is one of the very active and prom- inent members of the St. Paul's Lutheran church. For a period of eighteen years he served as a trus- tee of the church. In 1911, he was a member of the building committee that erected the large annex and remodeled the entire church. Socially he holds membership in the K. G. E .; the Wood- men of the World; Loyal Order of Moose; and the Ohio Traveling Men's Association. He was elected a school director of Third ward, Cat- asauqua; was committeeman of Hanover town- ship for a period of six years, representing the Democratic party on the county standing com- mittee.
He was married to Annie M. Seyfried in 1881. She is a daughter of Francis and Eliza (Rohn) Seyfried, of Hanover township. They had four children, but all died in infancy.
ELMER M. SMITH, dairyman and farmer in Hanover, was born near Shoenersville, Pa., June 30, 1867. He was reared upon the farm, and in 1898 purchased a 25-acre farm located along the Lehigh canal. There he since lives and in addi- tion to farming that tract he farms the Jacob Reichard farm in Hanover of 115 acres. He is a Democrat and was a supervisor for one year. He was married in 1887 to Louisa Rankey, daughter of John and Emma Rankey, who came from Ger- many. They have these children: Helen, Ray- mond, Alvin J., Emily B., and Warren J. Mr. Smith and his children are members of the Re- formed Church, while Mrs. Smith is a Catholic.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
ANDREW A. SMITH.
Andrew Abraham Smith, late of Allentown, was born in Moore township, Northampton coun- ty, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1863, son of Jacob and Lucy (Fehnel) Smith, who died many years ago. His widow subsequently married Theodore Steck- el and they reside at Allentown.
Andrew A. Smith learned the carpenter trade from his step-father, and afterwards he followed the trade at Pen Argyl, Bangor and Bethlehem. In 1890 he came to Allentown and became a car- penter foreman for James M. Ritter and a year later he entered in partnership with Elmer E. Ritter, son of his employer. The first job of Ritter & Smith was remodeling the H. Leh & Company building at Hamilton and Church streets. They were successful from the beginning and during their business career then erected several hundred houses amongst which are some of the most handsome dwellings in the city, the home of Horato B. Koch at Fulton and Hamil- ton streets being among the houses they erected. They also built the addition to the Hotel Allen, enlarged the Franklin school building, erected the administration building at Muhlenberg College, Trinity Reformed church, Kaltenbach & Steven's silk mills in the Fourteenth ward and also at Newark, the National Silk Dyeing plant in the Fourteenth ward, the Franklin Club House, the Masonic Cathedral at Bloomsburg and numerous other buildings.
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