History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 97

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 97

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

LEWIS F. SOUERWINE, the younger son of Elias, was born March 6, 1877, at Slatington, and educated in the schools of the borough. He learned the trade of machinist, and worked for the Bethlehem Steel Company, and the Carbon County Improvement Company; then filled the position of chief machinist for the Hazel-Dell Slate Company ,and afterward served as manager of the Frantz Manufacturing Company, of Cher- ryville.

In 1897 he engaged in the bicycle business and carried it on for several years; then the auto- mobiles made their appearance in the borough and he embarked in this business, which he has carried on in a successful manner until the pres- ent time. He is local agent for the Ford auto- mobile. He employs four men. In 1913, he established a large and superior garage at Slat- ington for repairing and storing automobiles.

In 1903, Mr. Souerwine was married to Min- erva Knoll, daughter of Alvin and Ellen (Brey- fogel) Knoll.

Elias Souerwine, the fourth son of John, was

1261

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

born May 17, 1816. He resided at Newhard's, was a shoemaker by trade and also cultivated a small farm. He was married to Elizabeth New- hard, born July 18, 1817, and they had five chil- dren: Alfred; Mary, married to William F. Baker, of Allentown; Henry; Paul, enlisted in the Civil War and died in the hospital at Har- risburg; Kate, married to John J. Williams; and James, who died in infancy. He died March 31, 1877, and she died Sept. 7, 1887. They were members of the Lutheran congregation at Frie- den's church, where they were buried.

Henry, the second son of Elias, was born May 2, 1842, in Washington township, brought up on a farm and there educated. He was employed in a school slate factory from 1864 until the time of his decease, April 19, 1909, a continuous period of forty-five years. He officiated as a township auditor for a number of years. He was married to Elizabeth Nonnemacher, daughter of Jacob and wife, nee Herbster, Nonnemacher, and they had seven children : James, who died in infancy ; Benjamin A .; Ellen, married to Samuel Remaly ; Emma, married to Robert Krause; Calvin; Lil- lie, married to Harvey Druckenmiller ; and El- mer. They were members of the Lutheran con- gregation at Frieden's church. He officiated as a deacon, elder and trustee. He died April 19, 1 909.

BENJAMIN A. SOUERWINE, the second son of Henry, was born. Jan. 27, 1868, at Newhard's, and reared on a farm until he was twenty-two years of age; then he began farming for himself on the shares, and continued to do so until 1901, when he purchased the farm where he now re- sides, known as the Miller plantation. In 1903, he erected the frame dwelling-house and after- ward added other improvements to the place. The old log dwelling which was erected about 1750 is still standing. In politics he is a Republican, and is serving as a director of the School Board. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A. 1

In 1886, Mr. Souerwine was married to Agnes Semmel, daughter of Moses and Leanna ( Geiger) Semmel, and they had six children : Minnie ; James; Florence, married to Robert Bachman ; Annie ; Carrie ; and Edna. James, the eldest son, was the U. S. census enumerator.

SOWDEN FAMILY.

Samuel Sowden was born in Liskeard, Corn- wall county, England, May 11, 1816, and was a son of Samuel and Mary (Tenney) Sowden. In his native country he was engaged in farming, and the mining of tin. In the year 1839, he was married to Mary, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Elliot. She died in 1842, aged 35 years, and was buried at Liskeard.

To them were born two sons: Hon. William H., the popular orator and campaigner of national fame, twice congressman from the Berks-Lehigh district, and John, who learned the watchmaking trade and who emigrated to Australia.

In 1846 he came to America, and located in Northampton county, in the vicinity of Heck- town, where he engaged in the mining of iron ore. He followed this occupation for several years, when he accepted a position from the Al- lentown Iron Company as superintendent of their mines throughout Lehigh county. In 1858, he resigned his position and removed to Ironton where he again resumed the mining of iron ore. He resided there until about nine years before his death when he moved to the vicinity of Meyers- ville. Mr. Sowden played an important part in the development of iron ore mining in the coun- ty. He was public spirited, friendly and neigh- borly. In politics he was a Republican. In re- ligion he adhered to the doctrines of the Reform- ed Church. In 1849 he was married a second time taking for his wife Elizabeth H., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Sowden) Williams also of Liskeard, England. She was born September 27, 1827, and the following year came with her parents to America, locating at Philadelphia, where she continued to reside until her marriage to Mr. Sowden. This union was blessed with six children :

Dr. Ralph T., Amelia T. married to William R. Reinhard of Shamokin and who died in 1882. Edwin E. who died in 1869. Jabez B. of Slate- dale. Samuel who died in 1863, and Mary E. married to Morris A. Lentz, of Slatedale.

He departed this life Feb. 5, 1891, aged nearly 75 years, and was buried at the Egypt Church. His good wife having preceded him but a short time, she dying Aug. 17, 1890, aged 63 years.

HON. WILLIAM H. SOWDEN

was born June 6, 1840, at Liskeard, England, died at Allentown, March 3, 1907, aged 67 years. After his education he taught school one term, then entered the law office of Hon. R. E. Wright as a law student, but on Aug. 13, 1862 he entered the Union Army as a corporal of Company D, 128th Regiment; was wounded in the leg on Sept. 17th, in the battle of Antietam. A legacy from England in 1863, enabled Mr. Sowden to enter the law department of Harvard College ; after graduating in 1865 he returned to Allen- town where he began the practice of the legal profession, in which he was conspicuously promi- nent until his death, but it was in politics in which Mr. Sowden gained national prominence before he was in middle life. He was a Demo- crat.

1262

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

In 1868 he was elected to his first political of- fice, that of solicitor to the county commissioners and strangely enough he ended his useful career in the same office in 1907. In 1872 he was elected district attorney.

As early as 1864 Mr. Sowden was upon the

Lehigh delegation that nominated R. E. Pattison for governor. In 1884 Sowden again became the congressional candidate, this time under the Craw- ford county system, which he was instrumental in its adoption. He won at the primaries over four competitors by 50 majority and was elected to the

HON. WILLIAM H. SOWDEN.

stump campaigning for G. B. McClellan, who was the candidate against Lincoln for President of the United States. Four years later he stumped the state for Seymour and again in 1872 he did similar service for Horace Greeley, the Demo- cratic presidential candidate. In 1874 Sowden was the nominee of his party for lieutenant governor. In 1876 he was for the first time a candidate for congress in the Tenth District of Pennsylvania, but was counted out by one vote. In 1880 he was a delegate to the national con- vention which nominated Gen. W. S. Hancock for the presidency. Two years later he led the

Forty-ninth Congress. In the same year he was delegate-at-large to the Chicago national conven- tion which nominated Cleveland for the presi. dency.

In 1886 he was re-nominated for congress; the Republicans did not put a man against him, as Sowden was a sincere protectionist. He made a most commendable record in Congress and served on the most important committees.

In 1890 he was once more a state delegate and helped to nominate R. E. Pattison for governor. In 1896 he was defeated for mayor of Allentown by 236 votes. In 1898 he was again nominated

1263

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

for lieutenant governor and for two months stumped the state. From 1900 to 1902 he was city solicitor of Allentown. In the latter year he was again a candidate for the congressional nomination, but was defeated by a narrow mar- gin. It was then that the Republicans induced him to accept the congressional nomination at their hands. In this great fight, though defeated

not even his bitterest enemy ever dared question his integrity. He was one of the ablest stump speakers of the country, and some of his Pennsyl- vania German stories and sayings will long be remembered. He had thousands of steadfast friends who mourned his death as one of their own family.

William H. Sowden married, in 1865, Mary

Ralph J. Bowden Ius?

by the heavy Democratic majority in Berks coun- ty, Sowden carried his opponent's own district, ward, city and county.

In 1904, Mr. Sowden made his last fight for congressional honors, this time on the Republican ticket, and he carried his own county by 400 majority and only lost the district by 1, 100 votes. In 1906 he was elected county solicitor and while serving in this position he rendered very efficient service to Lehigh county.

During the entire career of this born fighter

Alice Huntzinger. They had two children : Bes- sie, married to Hon. James L. Pugh, a judge, of. Washington, D. C .; and Edward H., who died in infancy. [See detailed sketch of Hon. Wil- liam H. Sowden, in Vol. I, page 242.]

RALPH TENNY SOWDEN, M.D., was born in the city of Allentown, Dec. 23, 1850. He at- tended the public schools of that town until his eighth year when he became a pupil in the country school located at Ballietsville, which he at- tended until he was fifteen years old. He then

1264

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

accepted a position in the mining region at Ritten- house Gap. Berks county, where he remained one year. He then returned to his home near Meyers- ville and attended Muhlenberg College during the winter session of 1867, walking daily to and from school, a distance of six miles each way.

As a youth he worked in the ore mines, and later also in the coal mines.

At the age of seventeen he began to teach in the public schools in the county. After teaching several terms he attended the Normal School at Kutztown. During the summer he followed various occupations and from the money thus earned he was enabled to carry out the fond hope of becoming a medical doctor. In June, 1873, he entered Crittendens Commercial College in Philadelphia and graduated from the school in seven weeks, being the first one to receive his di- ploma in that period of time.

In 1874, he began to read medicine in the of- fice of the late Dr. W. P. Kistler, then residing at Schnecksville. In the fall he entered the medical department of the University of Michi- gan at Ann Arbor, and finished his junior course. In the fall of 1878, he entered the senior class and graduated with honors in March, 1879.

Upon graduation he opened an office in Sha- mokin, but not liking the location remained there but a brief period.

In May, 1880, he located in Slatedale, where he has resided ever since, laboring in season and out of season to alleviate suffering and pain.

His faithfulness as a physician, uprightness and honesty as a man has won him the admiration and confidence of the community. Though a Democrat in politics, he has been twice elected school director from a strong Republican district. He was president of the board for several years, and much of the advancement of the local schools is due to his untiring efforts He was for several years vice president of the County Directors' Convention and elected as a delegate to the State School Directors' Convention held annually at Harrisburg Dr. Sowden is treasurer of the Slatedale Band, the Citizens' Fire Company, and Washington Camp, No. 323, P. O. S. of A.

He is a past commander of Star of the North Commandry No. 92, A. I. O. Knights of Malta 'of Slatington, having been one of the charter members; past district president and at present county president of the P. O. S. of A. Also a member of the Lehigh Valley Medical Society. He and his family are members of the Slatedale Reformed congregation. He was for many years secretary of the church. On June 12, 1881, he was united in holy wedlock with Mary A. S., a daughter of Alfred and Sabina (Blose) Lentz, of Washington township. They had issue:

Ralph T., who met with an accident which re- sulted fatally Feb. 22, 1907, aged 24 years. Ella S. A., married to Howard E. Mounce, of Philadelphia, and who have two children, Ralph W. and Margaret E. Samuel A. married to Jennie Smith and have one child, Russel T. Mary A., at home. Dr. Edgar L., graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1911, and was awarded a gold medal for passing the best examination in neurology. He was a resident physician at St. Luke's Hospital, at South Beth- lehem until July 1, 1912, when he associated him- self with his father in the practice of his pro- fession. Dr. Sowden had the misfortune of los- ing his estimable wife, who after a two days' ill- ness departed this life on April 7, 1913, aged 51 years.

CAPTAIN CHARLES SPANGLER.

Captain Charles Spangler, a manufacturer of Allentown, was born December 4, 1859, at Wil- liamsburg, Blair county, Pennsylvania, son of William and Susan ( Heimbach) Spangler.

Captain Spangler was educated in the public schools of Allentown, to which place his parents moved in 1860. At an early age he began to work in the foundry and to learn the machinist trade, serving his full apprenticeship. Within one year after he had completed his trade, in 1881, he established his present business, as Charles Spangler, Machinist and Founder, which is located at the southwest corner of Third and Walnut streets. He employs thirty people, and manufactures iron, brass, aluminum castings, straight and circular boiler grates, and does gen- eral repair work.

Mr. Spangler connected himself with the Na- tional Guard of Pennsylvania, upon his twentieth birthday, on December 4, 1879, and for a period of twenty-six consecutive years was in active serv- ice. He rose from a private of Company D, Fourth Regiment, to the office of captain of the same company, during the eleventh year of his service.

Captain Spangler was at the head of Com- pany D, Fourth Regiment, at the opening of the Spanish War in 1898. Practically his entire company enlisted for the conflict, and it was one of the first companies to be mustered in the U. S. Service, on May 9, 1898. The company was at Chickamauga, Georgia, for a time, and then en- trained at Rossville for Newport News, to form part of the Porto Rican expedition aboard the city of Washington. It was the first company of the Regiment to land at Arroyo, and with the First Battalion on the Cayey Road on the morn- ing of August 13, 1898, as support to a Missouri

ch Te-

an Pest en* ich-

ce. ol Ralph

1 T.

10 -

Eva by F & Williams & Bre NY

Chas Sprangler

1265

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

Battery, were ready for the command to begin hostilities when a messenger arrived an- nouncing that a Peace Protocol had been signed suspending hostilities. The company remained in camp at Gauyama with regular duties of out- post during the rest of the month, marching to Ponce on September 1, where it embarked on board the City of Chester, and sailed to New York. Returning home, a two-months' furlough was granted and November 16, 1898, was mus- tered out of the U. S. Service. The company reorganizing as Company D, Fourth Regiment, Captain Spangler was again elected, and served until January 20, 1905, when he resigned. Dur- ing his service, he participated in all active duties incidental to the call out of the troops for the industrial disturbances at Homestead and in the coal regions.

Captain Spangler is a charter member of George H. Schwartz Camp, No. 2, United Spanish War Veterans. He was elected Depart- ment Commander of United Spanish War Veterans of Pennsylvania, in 1904. The "Na- tional Convention of this order at St. Louis, by resolution, ratified the choice.

Politically, he had been an active Republican, until in 1912, when he became one of the organ- izers of the Independent movement, which, in Pennsylvania resulted in the organization of the Washington Party, which is a part of the Pro- gressive Party of the nation. In 1913, under the commission form of government for cities of the third class, Captain Spangler became a can- didate for the office of councilman, and from a list of forty-nine candidates he received the third highest vote on the ticket, and in November, was one of the four men to be elected.

Captain Spangler is prominent in Masonic cir- cles of Allentown. He is a member of Barger Lodge No. 333, F. and A. M., Alton Lodge No. I, Knights of Mystic Chain. He is also a mem- ber of the Allentown Chamber of Commerce.

He and family are members of the First Pres- byterian church. He is active in Sabbath school work, and is connected with the Men's Bible class of the First Presbyterian church Sunday school. Earlier in life Capt. Spangler was a member of the Baptist church, and he served the church organization as treasurer for several years.

Charles Spangler married Rosa Smith, on Oct. 7, 1886. She is a daughter of Russell and Nancy (Scholl) Smith, of Saegersville, this county. The following six children bless their union: (1) Maud E., who is a talented musician and singer. She sang in the Allentown churches until 1908, when she began singing in the leading Congre- gationalist Church in Philadelphia, also in the

Holy Lutheran Communion church in the same city. In the fall of 1912 she was engaged .to sing in the First Presbyterian church, Allentown. (2) Lloyd R. a machinist by trade assisted his . father until 1909, when he accepted a position on the Pacific coast.

(3) Lawrence died in 1909, aged 16 years.

(4) Helen R., is a graduate of the Allentown High School since 1913; and is now her father's bookkeeper.

(5) Elizabeth A.

(6) Edith M.

William Spangler, a native of Blair county, Pa., was born June 2, 1828, and died January 6, 1880, aged 51 years, 7 months and 4 days. Mr. Spangler and his wife are buried on Union Cemetery, Allentown, Pa. He was a wheel- wright, and came to Lehigh county in 1860, where he built and repaired many of the grist mills of the Lehigh Valley. He came to this county through Captain Charles Mickley, who was a distant kin, and who was interested in grist mills both in the Lehigh valley and Blair county.

Later Mr. Spangler connected himself with Barber and Company, who were pioneers in the foundry business in this section and gave em- ployment to a number of men. This concern made many castings for mills, and had the trade in this line for many years. William Spangler and one Henry Trumbauer owned one-fourth in- terest in the concern of Barber and Company, but some time after the retirement of Mr. Bar- ber from the firm, Mr. Spangler likewise with- drew.

He was married to Susan, a daughter of John Heimbach and wife, nee Deshler. She was born September 14, 1834 and died May 12, 1893. The following eight children were born to them :

Anna Belle, born January 22, 1857, and died February 7, 1883; Charles; Lesher, died in in- fancy; Emma died young; Martha married Os -. ville Schlosser ; Sallie married E. O. Reyer, pres- ident of the Cement National Bank, Northamp- ton, Pa .; Mary, died young; Harry, of Allen- town; and Ida Ellen, born December 18, 1874, and died December 17, 1897.

SPENCER FAMILY.

The ancestry of this name is traced through centuries in England and extends to the ninth generation in this country. It is of Norman ori- gin, and relates to an occupation known generally now as steward. The ancient family of this name was seated long at Stotford, Bedfordshire, Eng- land, and was founded in the time of William, the Conqueror. In ancient time the kitchen was called the spence, and one who was designated

1266

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

as de (of) spence or spencer, came in time to have this as a surname. In the Revolutionary records the name is spelled variously. The exact connection with those bearing the name at the present day cannot always be established with ac- curacy, owing to the destruction of early records, but that the family has an ancient origin begin- ning with the Normans in 1066, cannot be doubted.

Almon Spencer, who was a farmer all his life at Greenwich, Washington county, New York, where he owned a farm of eighty-five acres, died at the age of sixty years and is buried at Green- wvics. He married Caroline, a daughter of Barto- lett James, of Greenwich, and they had children : Ella, who married S. M. Hawkins, and resides at Manchester, Vermont ; Warren and Jessie, de- ceased; Charles, a farmer at Manchester, Ver- mont ; Lucius, a farmer, at Bennington, Vermont ; two daughters who died in infancy; Edgar A., of further mention; Mirl, lives in Rutland, Ver- mont ; a son, who died in infancy.

Edgar A., son of Almon and Caroline (James) Spencer, was born at Greenwich, Jan. 28, 1870. He was the recipient of an excellent education in the public schools near his home, leaving these at the age of eighteen years, and then accepted a position as clerk in a general store at South Shaftsbury, Vermont, which he held four years. He next filled a similar position at North Ben- nington, Vermont, after which, in 1895, he went to Allentown, and became an adjustor in the em- ploy of the American Steel and Wire Company. He was advanced to the position of night fore- man in due course of time, and in 1901, to that of day foreman of the barbed wire department, and has filled this up to the present time. His position is a most responsible one and he has two hundred and forty hands under his control. He is a member of Castle No. 55, Knights of the Golden Eagle; St. John's Lutheran church, and the Republican party. Mr. Spencer married, in 1896, Mary A., a daughter of Dr. Carver and Ameylie (Boyle) Rice, of Greenwich, New York, and they had children: Blanch A., Edgar, and Mary Louise.

HERMAN SPIEGEL.

Herman Spiegel, of the firm of Boehm and Spiegel, of Allentown, was born in Austria in 1868. He was educated in the schools of his na- tive country and Allentown. He learned the trade of wood carving, which he followed for a number of years. In 1905 he became a member of the firm of Boehm & Spiegel Co., who con- ducted their business at Bethlehem until August, 19II, when they moved to Allentown, where they increased their working force to 35 men. He is

an active and faithful member of the Catholic church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, being ac- tively identified with the leading organizations of the same. In 1897 he was married to Anna M. Buehrle, daughter of F. and C. Buehrle, of Al- lentown. They have four children: Joseph ; Catharine, Frank, and Herbert.

Joseph A. Spiegel, the father of Herman Spie- gel, was born in Austria in 1828. Coming to America in 1882 he located at Allentown where he followed cabinet making. His wife, Catharine Hefel, was born Jan 26, 1838. Mr. Spiegel died from typhoid pneumonia which he contrated during the terrible blizzard on March 26, 1888. He was a member of the Catholic church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The names of their chil- dren are as follows: Anna; Joseph A., deceased ; Martha; Herman; Christiana; Agatha; John ; Ferdinand; Mary ; and Catharine.

HARVEY W. SPRAGUE.

Harvey W. Sprague was a native of Church- ville, Monroe county, N. Y., born Sept. 18, 1819, and died May 30, 1902. He was educated in the common schools of the day, and became a farmer. He was also a captain of the old State Militia for many years. He was in religion, a Universal- ist. He married Sarah Smith. The surviving children are: Charles A. and Franklin, of Wil- son county, Kansas; Henry A., of Churchville, N. Y .; Sarah L., Mrs. Dr. Charles A. Albert- son, of Oswego, N. Y .; and Harvey O., of Salis- bury township, Lehigh county.

Harvey O. Sprague, son of Harvey W. and Sarah (Smith) Sprague, was born at Church- ville, N. Y., March 12, 1846. He was educated in the public schools and the Ann Arbor ( Michi- gan) University, graduating in 1869, in the law department. After graduating, he located in Kan- sas, where he engaged in farming, law and real estate, for four years. He subsequently removed, in 1876, to Hillsgrove township, Sullivan county, Pa., and followed farming for two years. He then located at Elmira, N. Y., and followed rail- roading for 13 years. In 1891, he removed to South Bethlehem, Pa., and located on a six-acre tract at Ackers, (formerly the Geiss or Goff) Hotel, in eastern Salisbury township. In poli- tics he is a Democrat and is a justice of the peace of the district since 1910. He was also a justice of the peace in Sullivan county, Pa. He and fam- ily are members of the Reformed Church. He was earlier, a Universalist. He married Sept. 18, 1873, Henrietta O. Huckell, daughter of Benjamin and Margaret (Plotts) Huckell. Is- sue: Harvey W .; Benjamin H. and Harry S .. twins; Edward W., and two who died young.

I267

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

HARVEY W. SPRAGUE, the eldest son of Har- vey O. and Henrietta O. (Huckell) Sprague, was born Aug. 13, 1874, in Hillsgrove town- ship, Sullivan county, Pa. His elementary edu- cation was acquired in the public schools of El- mira, N. Y., and at Lehigh University, at South Bethlehem, Pa., graduating in 1896 in mechani- cal engineering. He then entered the employ of the Bethlehem Foundry and Machine Company, where he became the general superintendent in 1899. In 1907 he became chief engineer for the Alsen's American Portland Cement Company, at Catskill, N. Y., where he remained for one year. He then returned to South Bethlehem and was engaged with the Bethlehem Steel Company for a time. Subsequently he and Clyde E. Snyder, under the name of the General Crushed Stone Company, became the successor of George L. Knauss, at Rittersville, Pa., which they conducted until the incorporation of the Sprague Machine Company, at Fountain Hill, of which enterprise Mr. Sprague was the head and leading spirit until his retirement from the concern in the spring of 1914.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 97

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