USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume II > Part 34
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Robert S. Brown was survived by his second wife, Ida Keiper Brown, who died in Easton in the early part of the year 1918. They were the parents of four children: 1. Robert S. (2), residing in Easton. 2. Frank R., died in Easton in 1916. 3. Elizabeth M., of Easton. 4. L. Renton, of Easton.
JOHN SANFORD NOBLE-When a young man, Frederick Waldo Noble came to Easton from his Connecticut home, and until his death, at the age of sixty-seven, was a prominent citizen of Easton, identified with the business and public life of the city. He left an only son, John Sanford Noble, who, since his father's death, has been the Easton representative of this old and honorable New England family founded in 1632 by Thomas Noble, who died in Westfield, Massachusetts, January 20, 1704.
(I) Thomas Noble was admitted an inhabitant of Boston, Massachu- setts, January 5, 1653, but removed the same year to Springfield, Massa- chusetts, where he resided until 1689, going thence to Westfield, where he died fifteen years later. He married November 1, 1660, Hannah Warriner. The line of descent is through the founder's son, John (I), his son, John (2), his son, Thomas (2), his son, Sylvanus, his son, Rev. Birdseye Glover, his son, John Waldo, his son, John Sanford Noble of the eighth American generation.
(II) John Noble of the second generation, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, March 6, 1662, died in New Milford, Connecticut, August 17, 1714. He married (second) in 1684, Mary, daughter of Richard Goodman, of Hadley, Massachusetts.
(III) John (2) Noble was born February 15, 1685, and died at the great age of eighty-eight. He was captain of the train band at Milford, Connecticut, in 1732, and in August, 1720, united with the Milford Con- grerational Church. He married (first) Hannah, daughter of Thomas Pickett, who died March 1, 1716.
(IV) Thomas (2) Noble was born January 16, 1712, died November 4,
The Amerian distor.call ogty
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1783. He erected the first house in New Milford north of Gallows Hill, and there resided until death, a wealthy property owner and influential man. He was selectman in 1771, and was representative five sessions ending in 1774. He married, June 29, 1737, Mary, daughter of Captain Thomas Curtis, of Kensington, Connecticut.
(V) Sylvanus Noble was born at the homestead in New Milford, Con- necticut, July II, 1756, died March 26, 1837. Ilc married July 11, 1790, Elizabeth Glover, of Newtown, Connecticut.
(VI) Rev. Birdseye Glover Noble was born in New Milford, Connecti- cut, April 26, 1791, died in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1848. He was a graduate of Yale College, class of 1810, and studied theology at the general seminary of the Episcopal church in New York City. In 1813 he was ordained rector of Christ Church, Middletown, Connecticut, and later was a trustee of Washington College, now Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut. He was a man of scholarly attainment, high intellectual power, and was a power for good in whatever sphere he moved. He married Charlotte, daughter of John and Amy (Northrop) Sanford. They were the parents of five children : William Henry Noble, brevet brigadier-general and eminent citizen of Bridge- port, Connecticut ; John Sanford, a hardware merchant, of Easton, Pennsyl- vania; Charlotte Elizabeth, married Rev. Charles H. Force, a Presbyterian minister ; Frederick Waldo, of further mention; Edward Sylvanus, died young.
(VII) Frederick Waldo Noble was born at Middletown, Connecticut, May 15, 1821, died in Easton, Pennsylvania, in 1887. He was educated in the public and private schools of New England, and was variously engaged until 1846, when he located in Easton, Pennsylvania, there engaging in the hardware business, his store located at the corner of South Third street and Center square, the Easton Trust Company building now occupying the site. He continued in the hardware business until 1868, then sold out. Later, in partnership with his brother, John S. Noble, and others, under the firm name Noble, Kellogg & Company, he built the Geneva Fox River Railroad. He was one of the organizers of the Merchants Bank of Easton, and a member of its original board of directors. He was identified with other public enterprises of note and was one of the progressive, public-spirited men of his day whose word endures. He was the owner of a fine stock farm, actively interested in the Farmer's Institute, and in the annual agri- cultural fairs held in Easton. He was a Whig, later a Republican, and a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, a faith in which he was reared. Frederick W. Noble married, September 20, 1849, Anna Sebring, born at Easton, September 10, 1829, died in 1892, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Davis) Sebring, her father an eminent lawyer, and public man. Mr. and Mrs. Noble were the parents of four children: John Sanford, of further mention ; Elizabeth Sebring, born April 27, 1853, died December 21, 1875; Nina, born November 26, 1854. died July 4, 1871 ; Edith, born March 26, 1857. (VIII) John Sanford Noble was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1851, only son of Frederick Waldo and Anna (Scbring) Noble. He com- pleted public school courses with graduation from Easton High School, class of 1868. He then entered Lafayette College, completed the first year of the scientific course, then withdrew to join an engineering corps connected with a railroad enterprise in which his father was interested in Ottawa, Illinois. He spent two years in the West, then returned to Easton, and after a special course of study at Lafayette he engaged in the hardware business with his uncle, also John Sanford Noble. They operated under the firm name, Noble & Company, for five years, then the junior partner withdrew and began the study of law. He soon gave up the law and engaged in business, open- ing insurance, conveyancing, and brokerage offices. In 1899 he formed a partnership with H. T. Buckley, in the private banking firm, H. T. Buckley &
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Company of Easton. For more than forty years he has been a notary public ; for several years he was city clerk; was one of the organizers of the Easton Board of Trade, and its first secretary ; and was one of the leading factors in inducing the location of the Simon Silk Mills at Easton. IIe has aided in a public-spirited manner all movements tending to better conditions in his native city, and he ranks with commercial and financial leaders of Easton.
Mr. Noble is a Republican in politics, and has served in Common Coun- cil as city clerk, and for twenty-three years as a return judge of election. He is affiliated with Saranac Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men ; member of the Mckinley Club ; and is a communicant of Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church. He married in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1883, Florence Baldwin, daughter of Isaac and Charlotte (Holland) Baldwin. Mrs. Noble died in Easton in 1908, a most devout church woman. Children: Charlotte, residing with her father; John Sanford (3), a sergeant in Battery A, 107th Regiment, United States Field Artillery, now serving in France with the American Army of Occupation. He was in the hard fighting at the St. Mehiel salient, Chateau Thierry, and Argonne Forest, but came through safely from those desperate conflicts which proved the American soldier to be of the finest quality.
EDWARD MASON HILL-The passing of Alvin Hill removed a prominent and interesting figure from Bethlehem's list of business men, one who had been active in the upbuilding and development of the city. He was of an old New England family, reared in the school of experience, and was one of the strong men of his city. His great-grandfather, Henry Hill, was a farmer, of Maine. His grandfather, Benjamin Hill, died in Maine, aged forty- two years. the father of nine children, two of whom, Joseph and Alvin, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Alvin Hill, son of Benjamin and Huldah (Parker) Hill, was born at Brownfield, Oxford county, Maine, December 9, 1843, died in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, January, 1912. His father and grandfather were both born in the State of Maine; his mother, who died in 1870, was a daughter of Caleb Parker, a soldier of the War of 1812. He passed his youth until sixteen years of age on the paternal farm and in attendance at the district school. In 1859 he went to Boston, and being then thrown upon his own resources, he rapidly developed a strong, self-reliant character and a strong faith in his own ability to make his way in the world. In the spring of 1864, he enlisted for ninety days in a military company known as the Old Fusiliers, that company being stationed at Fort Warren for the protection of Boston Harbor. In the same year he married, in Boston, Ruth J. Annis, born in Benton, New Hampshire, but grew to womanhood in Stoneham, Massa- chusetts, daughter of Pearley Annis, a farmer. The young couple resided in Stoneham until 1874. Mr. Hill was engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. In 1874 he located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and became a a hide and tallow dealer, being associated in that business with his brother, Joseph Hill, now too deceased. Joseph Hill had previously purchased a tan- nery on Monocacy creek, and in 1875 at the old Moravian Tannery, probably the first in Pennsylvania, the brother conducted a profitable business until 1882, when the death of Joseph Hill dissolved the partnership. Alvin Hill then operated the plant under his own name until 1904, when he admitted his son, Edward, to a partnership; the latter is now his father's successor. Alvin Hill was a good business man, had every confidence in his own judg- ment, and never hesitated to embark in any business enterprise that his judg- ment approved. Thus he acquired large holdings of Bethlehem real estate, both improved and unimproved. He was a director of the First National Bank, and a heavy stockholder in the Bethlehem Electric Light Company, the Bethlehem and Nazareth Street Railway Company, and the former Mont-
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gomery Traction Company. He was one of the incorporators of the Cutter Silk Mill Company, the former mill on River street, owned by that company, now the property of Saaquoit Silk Mill Manufacturing Company, of Phila- delphia. He was also interested in and a stockholder of the old Bethlehem Fair and Driving Association. He was very progressive in his ideas and never refused an investment offered him because it was "new fangled." Ile gave every proposition careful consideration and made up his own mind concerning the value of the proposal to him. He prospered abundantly and was held in high esteem by contemporaries.
In 1888 Mr. Hill was elected a member of the Borough Council from the Third Ward of Bethlehem, served three years, and in 1891 was re-elected for a similar period. During his six years in council he served on many important regular and special committees, and was chairman of the committees, water and streets. He was a member of Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church. and from 1877 was a member of the board of trustees. He gave liberally to all good causes, and every church need or benevolence always had his gener- ous support. He was a member of Lchigh Council, No. 356, Royal Arcanum ; and of Bethlehem Conclave, Improved Order of Heptasophs. He was of friendly social nature, made friends easily and always retained them. In politics he was a Democrat in carly years, but eventually leaned towards Republicanism, but was independent.
Alvin Hill married in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1864. Ruth J. Annis, who died in Bethlehem in 1889, the mother of seven children, two of whom are yet living: Edward M., of Bethlehem, and Joseph E., of Philadelphia. Mr. Hill married (second) in 1890, Elizabeth Gangewere, daughter of Dr. Benjamin F. and Hannah Gangewere, who were then residing in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. By his second marriage Mr. Hill had two children: Lloyd Benjamin, an inspector of the Bethlehem Steel Works, married Lillian Fah- renhold and has two children, Bettie and John; the second son. Russell Parker Hill, is in the United States service, enlisted in the Naval Reserve. Russell married, March, 1919, Loretta Ryan, of Troy, New York. Mrs. Hill survives her husband.
Dr. Harvey Hill, a son of Alvin and Ruth J. (Annis) Jill, a practicing physician of Northampton, Pennsylvania, died at the age of thirty-one, un- married. One of the two living sons of Alvin Hill, Joseph E. Ilill, resides in Philadelphia. He married Mabel Jahannette and has two children: Bettie and Joseph.
The second living son, Edward Mason Hill, was born in Stoneham, Massachusetts, March 31, 1869, and was brought to Bethlehem by his parents in 1874. He was educated in the Bethlehem public schools and Schwartz Academy. He became associated with his father in business, and in 1004 was admitted a partner. Mr. Hill has always remained in the business of Alvin Hill & Son, and at present is proprietor of the same. Edward M. Hill married, in 1904, in New York City, Nancy Smith, who was born in Canada. They have one child, Alvin Mason Hill, born December 9, 1906. Mr. Hill is a lover of all out-door sports, such as football and baseball, the latter especially. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Bethlehem Club, and the Moravian congregation.
JOHN RICE-Now executive head of the General Crushed Stone Com- pany of Easton, a corporation to which he came as general superintendent in 1900, Mr. Rice, in the importance of the work which he is doing, is fol- lowing in the footsteps of his honored father, George Rice, and his grand- father, John Rice, both of whom were leading constructive engineers, con- tractors and builders of their day. John Riec was identified with the build- ing interests of the city of Philadelphia during his lifetime. George Rice sought a broader field and became a great constructive engineer identified
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with works of national importance, such as the Chicago Drainage Canal, the Philadelphia subway, the Philadelphia and Reading railroad, work which resulted in the abolition of hundreds of grade crossings in the city of Philadelphia, with great engineering enterprises in many other localities. The first of this family of builders has long since passed away, also his son, George Rice, who died in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, the city in which his wife Isabella Hitner (Potts) Rice was born and which was named in honor of her ancestor, John. She is of the famed Potts family, of Penn- sylvania, founded by Thomas Potts, a family now in its ninth generation in America. The third of this trio of builders, John Rice, right at life's prime, has gone far along the road to professional and business success, and with the past as a criterion his future seems bright. The first of this family in the United States was William Rice, who came from Ireland when a young man and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married and had a son, John Rice, born in Philadelphia, the grandfather of John Rice, of Easton, Pennsylvania.
John Rice, of Philadelphia, became a leading contractor and builder of that city and rose to importance both in business and civic life. He was a member of the Fairmount Park Commission of Philadelphia, a director of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, chairman of the Public Buildings Commission, and one of the founders of the Union League of Philadelphia. It is an interesting fact in connection with the last statement that George Rice, son of John Rice, before his death in 1918, was the oldest living member of the Union League of Philadelphia. John Rice married Mary Brown Kennerdine, daughter of Jacob Kennerdine, with whom John Rice first became associated in the contracting business.
George Rice, son of John and Mary Brown (Kennerdine) Rice was born in Philadelphia. August 1, 1838, and resided in Pottstown, Pennsyl- vania, at the time of his death, 1918. During his active years he was a leader among Pennsylvania's civil engineers and won his reputation through achievement of the highest order. He completed his education, won his spurs, and entered the engineering department of the Philadelphia and Read- ing railroad, and was advanced to resident engineer. In 1863 the Phila- delphia and Reading raised a company of infantry, of which Mr. Rice was appointed captain after the completion of his service in the ranks. A mem- ber of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, he compiled a record of sol- dierly merit. After his term of service ended, he returned to Pottstown, with the Philadelphia and Reading railroad, and until the years bore heavily was actively engaged in business connected with his profession-civil engi- neering and construction work. He was for years vice-president of E. D. Smith & Company, builders of the great Chicago Drainage Canal, the Philadelphia subway, the Philadelphia and Reading subway, and of other noted works in different parts of the United States. George Rice was chief engineer of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company, chief engineer of the Street Railway Companies of Pittsburgh, and in charge of the con- struction of the original cable and electric railway system in that city. In addition he was identified with many other important enterprises, and as constructing engineer his services were always in demand, and were even so up to the last, as consultant. Finally he retired, and at his Pottstown home reviewed a life of honorable achievement.
George Rice married Isabella Hitner Potts, born June 5, 1836, daughter of Henry and Isabella (Hitner) Potts, a descendant of Thomas Potts. the founder of the family in America. The family is historic in Pennsylvania, their fame forever preserved by the important cities. Pottstown and Potts- ville. and by the worthy deeds of nearly two centuries of men and women bearing the name. George and Isabella Hitner (Potts) Rice are the parents of a son, John Rice, of whom further mention follows, and a daughter,
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Helen, wife of H. Hammer, deceased. Mr. George Rice died Thursday, September 27, 1918, at his home at Pottstown, Pennsylvania, after an illness of two years.
John Rice, of the fourth generation of the Rice family and of the ninth generation of the Potts family in America, was born in Pottstown, Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1866. He prepared for college in the well known Hill School of Pottstown, going thence to Sheffield Scien- tific School, Yale University, there continuing until graduated Ph.B., class of 1885. Immediately after graduation he began his business carcer by entering the service of the Philadelphia Bridge Company of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, there remaining four years in the draughting department. Ilc then joined his father in Pittsburgh, and in association with him installed the Pittsburgh system of electric railways, and for ten years was engaged in electric railway, general construction and engineering work in Pittsburgh and other American cities.
In the year 1900 John Rice was appointed general superintendent of the General Crushed Stone Company of Easton, Pennsylvania, and since that year has made Easton his home. He was advanced to the rank of vice-presi- dent in 1901, and in 1909 was elected president of the corporation, his present office. The company is an important and prosperous one, the great advance in road building and concrete construction taxing the resources of the stone crushing companies to their limit. He is also president of the Amies Road Company and had other business interests of importance. He is a member of the Easton Board of Trade and interested in all that pertains to Easton's commercial development. He was appointed, October, 1917, county chair- man of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, of the United States Fuel Administration.
A good red-blooded man, Mr. Rice delights in out-of-doors recreation- golf, motoring and fishing most appealing to him. A list of his clubs includes the Rotary, Pomfret, Northampton County Country and Easton Anglers, all of Easton; the University and St. Anthony's, of Philadelphia; St. An- thony's and Yale, of New York City; Graduates, of New Haven; and the Bethlehem, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. His college fraternity is Delta Psi ; his political preference, Republican. In 1912 he was Presidential clec- tor, and he served a term in Easton City Council.
Mr. Rice married, January 5, 1898, Carrie Arndt Drake, daughter of Samuel Drake, of Easton, whose carcer is elsewhere traced in this work. Mrs. Rice is active in the Woman's Club of Easton, and in Red Cross work, and bore her share of the extra burdens imposed by the late war. They are the parents of two children: Virginia, a graduate of the Misses Masters School at Dobbs Ferry, New York, in 1918; and John, preparing for Yale at the Hill School, Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
MARTIN JOSEPH RIEGEL-For more than half a century Martin J. Riegel, now living in honored retirement in Easton, Pennsylvania, was in the book and stationery business in Easton. Riegel's was headquarters for school books for Easton children until "free textbooks" took that busi- ness away from the retailers. That void was quickly filled by a line of musical instruments which compensated for the loss of the school book. Mr. Riegel came to Easton in 1856 a young man of twenty-one, a coach builder by trade, but mercantile life attracted him, and until his recent retirement he was continuously in the book, stationery and musical instru- ment business, the first eight years, 1856-1864, as clerk, then about half a century as proprietor. To a long and honored business career in Easton, Mr. Riegel has added public service of importance, and as a member of the First Reformed Church of Easton he has proved that he was not a man whose sole interest was in business. He is now well into octogenarian ranks, but his appearance would indicate a much younger man. Ile can
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review his life in retrospect with the calm satisfaction that rightfully fol- lows the knowledge that duty has been well performed and responsibility fully met.
Martin J. Riegel is a son of Joseph and a grandson of Matthias Riegel, who lived and died in Hellertown, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer many years of his life, and a man well liked by all. He married Miss Cram, and among their children was a son, Joseph, of further mention.
Joseph Riegel was born at the homestead in Lower Saucon township at Hellertown, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in August, 1807. died in Hellertown, August 3, 1885. He spent his early life on the farm and obtained his education in the district school, and in the Vanderveer School in Easton. As a young man he taught school, then returned to farming for a time, finally devoting his entire time and energy to mercantile business. He was postmaster for twenty-five years, justice of the peace many years, and a member of the Reformed church. He was a Whig in politics until the downfall of that party, when he became a Republican, remaining loyal in his devotion to that political body until the end of his life. He was a candi- date for sheriff at one time, but the county was normally strongly Demo- cratic, and he was defeated. As justice of the peace he did much legal business for his neighbors, but his advice to them was always to avoid litigation. Joseph Riegel married Mary Newcomber, born in Upper Saucon township, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, March II. 1812, died at the Heller- town home, June 26, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Riegel were the parents of five children : Catherine, born August 26, 1830, died April 25, 1900, married Daniel H. Smith, of South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Henry Matthias, born July, 1833, died October, 1863; Martin Joseph, of further mention ; Samuel Peter, born November, 1837, died in 1855; Charles Jacob, born January 28, 1841, who removed to Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Martin Joseph Riegel was born in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, December 11, 1835, and now (January, 1919) is residing in Easton, Pennsylvania, a retired merchant. He attended the village school, where his first teacher was a Mr. Shorter. The schoolhouse was of stone, rough casted without and very bare within. Long benches before sloping desks were the seating accommodations; the curriculum, the three "Rs." One of the readers used was printed in German, called the "German Friend." This book the lad translated in part into English when he was twelve years of age. His public school attendance was limited to but a few months each year, according to the custom of that day, but Joseph Riegel, the father, was greatly in favor of education and wanted his children to have all possible advantages. When the public school was closed he sent them to a private school taught by Plato Stout. At the age of fifteen Martin J. left home and went to Bethle- hem, Pennsylvania, where he served a three years' apprenticeship to the coach builder's trade under Lehr & Sellars. He had not completed his term when he was taken sick and returned home and remained there until his health was regained.
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