USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume II > Part 38
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Mr. Gerstell married in 1891, Fannie Brown Buxton, a nicce of ex-
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Senator Henry G. Davis, of West Virginia, and of Col. Thomas B. Davis, of West Virginia. Her mother, Eliza A. (Davis) Buxton, a daughter of Caleb D. Davis, son of Robert Davis, son of Thomas Davis, th's Davis family coming from Maryland to West Virginia. Thomas Davis, an exten- sive land owner of Maryland, married Mary Pierrepont, and reared a large family. Robert Davis, their son, lived at "Ranters Ridge," near Woodstock, Maryland. He married Ruth Garter, and they were the parents of five sons; including Caleb D., who at one time was a prosperous merchant of Balti- more. Later Caleb D. Davis moved to Howard county, Maryland, and engaged in farming on the banks of the Patapsco. Later he took contracts for railroad work, and for building in the village of Woodstock. He married Louisa, daughter of John Riggs and Sarah (Gassaway) Browne. Mrs. Davis, sister of Elizabeth Browne, was the mother of Arthur Pue Gorman, United States senator from Maryland, sitting in the United States Senate with his cousin, Henry Gassaway Davis, senator from West Virginia. Caleb D. and Louisa (Browne) Davis were the parents of five children: John B. Davis, who died February 1I, 1889; Henry Gassaway Davis, United States senator, Democratic candidate for vice-president, and father-in-law of Senator Ste- phen B. Elkins, the Republican leader of West Virginia; William R. Davis, died in 1879: Col. Thomas B. Davis; and an only daughter, Eliza A., who married Upton M. Buxton. They were the parents of Fannie Brown Bux- ton, widow of Arnold F. Gerstell, residing in Easton, the family home at the corner of Lafayette and Meixell streets, College Hill. She has two children : Robert Sinclair Gerstell, a graduate of Princeton, class of 1017; Mary Louise Gerstell, a graduate of the Baldwin School, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
The following are not time-worn formalities, but the heartfelt expression of men who knew Mr. Gerstell, office employees of the Alpha Portland Cement Company :
ARNOLD FREDERICK GERSTELL
"Everybody loved him." Thus did one who had worked with our President for more than a dozen years, express the relations existing between him and his associates.
A born leader, he set us a high standard of efficiency, doing more himself than he required others to do.
By his broad-minded trust, he earned a confidence, a respect, and a loyalty that few employers have received. Withal, he demonstrated that an employer may be gracious while being insistent on strict performance of duty-on exact work.
He was ever an inspiring example of the tireless leader who would have none but the best, at the same time possessing a gentleness and a generosity that made him a friend of every employee of the Alpha Cement Company. We did not know how much lie meant to us until his chair was empty, and we realized that we must go on without his leadership, but we do know the example of his life will never be forgotten.
He knew that we loved him and respected him, and would have gone to the uttermost for him, and we believe that this knowledge bore him up and sustained him in many trying moments.
We take this means of expressing to the family of our beloved President, Arnold Frederick Gerstell, and to the directors of the Alpha Portland Cement Company, our sympathy, also our gratitude for the privilege of having worked with him, our feeling of personal loss, and the respect with which we shall always hold his memory.
The following resolutions, beautifully engrossed, illuminated and bound, were sent to Mrs. Gerstell :
At a meeting of the Association of American Portland Cement Manufacturers, held in New York City, December 9, 1914, the following minutes were adopted :
WHEREAS: This Association through the death of ARNOLD FREDERICK GERSTELL, which occurred on October 16, 1914, has been deprived of one of its most useful and esteemed members; therefore be it
RESOLVED : That the Association give expression to the sincere sorrow and regret occasioned by his untimely demise, and that we take this occasion to pay to the memory of the deceased the tribute so fully deserved by his high character, his sincere friendship for members of the Association, and unselfish devotion to its best interests; and be it further
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RESOLVED: That these resolutions be spread upon the Minutes and a copy of same sent to the bereaved family of the deceased.
PERCY H. WILSON, Secretary.
Jon B. L.
President.
At a meeting of the board of directors of the Alpha Portland Cement Company, held November 18, 1914, the following minutes were unanimously adopted :
It was with feelings of profound regret we learned of the death of our esteemed president, Arnold Frederick Gerstell, which occurred on Friday, October 16. 1914.
Mr. Gerstell entered the service of this company sixteen years ago as vice-president, and continued in its service to the day of his death. In May, 1900, he became its presi- dent. Urder his guidance and management the business of the company increased greatly, so that at the time of his death it is twenty-five times larger than when he entered its employ and the manufacturing plants increased from one to six. There can be no better testimonial of his great business capacity, his executive ability and his management of men than these facts.
The success of his company was the ideal of his life, and with that end in view he threw into his work all the power and force of his mind and body. He was truly without a peer in the cement industry. By his frankness, fair dealing, honesty, and courage he commanded confidence. Whilst aggressive in business he was not offensive. By his suavity of manner ard charming diplomacy personal to him he accomplished his purpose without leaving any sore spots, and always retained the confidence, esteem, respect, and friendship of his competitors in trade. He was of quick, keen, business perception; he presented his views and suggestions with sound argument, never assertive, and if any suggestions were made which appealed to him as better than his own he was quick to perceive and adopt them. By his own personality, his sound judgment, his broad-minded grasp and genial disposition, he drew us all very close to him and our association with him in the business of this company has been one of our greatest pleasures, and in all time to come will be one of our most pleasant memories.
Owing to the guidance and administration the company today is thoroughly organized, and in most excellent condition. He walked out of our lives in the very glory and con- summation of his work.
Ife was a devoted husband and father, and to his dear wife and children we extend our sincere condolence.
In social life he was a lovable character ; he was a true friend, strong in purpose and gentle as a child. He was honest, considerate of the weakness of others, faithful in every trust, by his strong magnetism all he drew to him became his friends. Like the strings of a well tuned instrument he blended into a delightful harmony. To the ending of such a life death hath no sting, the grave no victory; his life labor was well done; he laid down the work and passed to life Eternal. "Well done thon good and faithful servant."
F. M. COOGAN, Secretary. G. S. BROWN, President.
DAVID JUNKIN GODSHALK-David J. Godshalk, one of the promi- nent newspaper men of Pennsylvania during the generation just passed. editor of the Globe of South Bethlehem and other periodicals in this part of the State, was a member of one of the oldest, if not the very oldest family in Pennsylvania, where it was founded as early as 1694. The immigrant ancestor was George Godshalk, who formed one of the colony founded at Germantown ten years before by a band of Mennonites and other sects of a similar belief. Although the majority of these came from Germany, as the name of the settlement indicates, there were many who were of Dutch and Swiss origin besides a considerable number of English Quakers. The Quakers and Mennonites had much in common in their religion, and they were alwas friendly, and often settled in the same region, so that their descendants became indistinguishable. There are, for instance, a number of families, the origin of which was originally thought to be German, now known to have come from Holland and Switzerland. George Godshalk himself came from London : the spelling of the name suggests a long period of residence in England, although the origin of the family was unquestion- ably Dutch. From Germantown the family spread throughout the State.
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where it is now so numerous as to make it appear probable that there were several ancestors in the early days coming independently from abroad.
From this ancient and much to be respected family, David J. Godshalk was descended, his immediate parents being Benjamin and Anna Rosina (Unangst) Godshalk, old and highly esteemed residents of Williams town- ship, Northampton county. It was there that David J. Godshalk was born December 23, 1836, and it was there that the first few years of his life were passed. He was still a child when the family removed to Easton, and it was at the public schools of that place that he received his education. When the lad had reached the age of thirteen years, his father apprenticed him to his uncle, Frank P. Sellers, of Doylestown, who published a temperance journal called the Olive Branch, and there the boy learned the printer's trade. After- wards, Mr. Sellers' printing establishment was sold to a Mr. Moyer, who transferred it to Norristown, Pennsylvania, and there turned the paper into an abolitionist journal, although the original name was retained. Young Mr. Godshalk went with the paper to Norristown, and continued to work for it until 1851, gaining a large experience in his work and becoming familiar with every detail of publishing a paper. In that year he secured a position in the printing house of John A. Gray, of New York City, and for a number of years was employed in that and other establishments in the metropolitan city. He was connected for a time with the New York Times, in a number of capacities, including those of compositor and proofreader, and he also acted as a correspondent with that paper occasionally. Another connection of Mr. Godshalk at about this time was that with B. F. Coles, of Kennett square, publisher of the Kennett Square Free Press. The paper was owned by the late Dr. Frank Taylor, and Mr. Godshalk assisted Mr. Coles in the repor- torial and editorial departments. and with the general management thereof. The Kennett Square Free Press was a most ably conducted sheet, and such men as the late Dr. Stebbins and Barcley Pennock, a companion of Bayard Taylor in many of his travels, were contributors to it. In the year 1860, Mr. Godshalk went to Norristown again and there took charge of the publication of a small paper known as the Natianal Defender, owned by Edwin Schall, an old and intimate friend. The National Defender was concerned with the many great issues that just then were agitating the nation, and Mr. Godshalk had a great opportunity to exhibit his talents as a writer, as well as his skill in publishing. He renewed his connection with the New York Times at this time, and was employed in that and other metropolitan offices during the exciting months preceding the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency. He continued in active newspaper work for a time after the outbreak of the Civil War, until his intense patriotism caused him to enlist in Company I, Twenty-Second Regiment, New York National Guard, in 1863. For three months he was with his regiment at the front, and took part in the campaign at Harper's Ferry and Winchester, Virginia. The Twenty-Second was then sent back to New York to assist in quelling the draft riots in that city under General Canby. Later it formed a part of the provisional corps of General Smith at the Battle of Gettysburg, but was not actually engaged in that great struggle. At the close of hostilities, Mr. Godshalk was mustered out and returned to New York City, where he was engaged in newspaper work for a time. From New York he returned to Pennsylvania to his old home town of Easton, where, in association with William Eichman, he founded the Easton Daily Express and opened a job printing shop. Not long after. General W. E. Doster suggested to the two young men that they carry on their enterprise in the flourishing city of Bethlehem, advice that appealed to them as excellent, and they accordingly removed to this place and commenced the publication of a weekly journal called the Chronicle. It was in 1865 that the first daily paper in Bethlehem was founded by Mr. Godshalk, and on February 4, of that year, the first issue of the Daily Times appeared. For
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Fraile Green
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twenty-two years he remained at the head of this very successful sheet, but in 1887 sold it to the present Times Publishing Company. He went to Trenton, New Jersey, immediately afterward, and there formed an associa- tion with Edward Fitz George, with whom he conducted the Trenton Times. This association did not last quite a year, however, and Mr. Godshalk sold his interest in that publication and purchased from Howard Mutchler a half interest in the Easton Daily Express. But Mr. Godshalk had labored hard, at high nervous tension, for a long period of years, and his health began to give such unmistakable signs of failing that he was unable to continue, and was obliged to give up active life for a time. It soon appeared that it was nothing beyond overwork, however, and in 1889 he came back into the saddle and purchased the South Bethlehem Star from M. S. Grim and J. S. Harlacher. This paper he edited himself until 1901, when he first came to be associated with the South Bethlehem Globe. The ownership of the Globe was changed just about that time and Mr. Godshalk became its editor, a post he continued to fill with great distinction until the time of his death. Under his masterly direction the Globe became one of the best and most influential papers, not only in this city, but throughout the State, and through its columns the orig- inal and brilliant personality of Mr. Godshalk made itself potently felt.
Mr. Godshalk was a conspicuous figure in the general life of the com- munity and was particularly prominent in fraternal circles here and elsewhere in the State. He was actively affiliated with the Masonic order, and was past master of Bethlehem Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; past high priest of Zinzendorf Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; past thrice illustri- ous master of Bethlehem Council. Royal and Select Masters; and a member of the Hugh de Payen Commandery, Knights Templar, of Easton. Besides these Masonic bodies he was affiliated with the J. K. Taylor Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and a past commander of the same; a charter mem- ber of the Lehigh Council, Royal Arcanum, of Bethlehem ; and of Bethlehem Conclave, of Improved Order of Heptasophs. He served as senior major and aide-de-camp of Major-General W. J. Bolton, commanding the Second Division, National Guard of Pennsylvania. He was honorably discharged November 18, 1876, after a period of service of fifteen years in the National Guard of Pennsylvania and New York. He was appointed as sergeant- major by Governor John F. Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, September 8, 1874. The Second Division comprised Montgomery, Bucks, Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton counties. He was a member of Northampton Club, and for many years was a member of the Pomfret Club, of Easton. He belonged also to the State and National Editorial Associations. His death occurred January 29, 1911. Mr. Godshalk was fond of travel, and during the latter years of his life made several trips abroad in order to restore his somewhat impaired health.
David J. Godshalk was united in marriage February 23, 1858, in New York City, with Susan A. Seely, a native of Orange county, New York. Mrs. Godshalk died in 1861. They were the parents of one child, a daughter, Hannah Elizabeth Godshalk, a most gifted and cultured woman who in the past assisted her father in his newspaper work. She was his regular assistant when he was editing the Star in South Bethlehem, and is at the present time a member of the Globe staff. She has made many trips to Europe, con- ducting parties there, and has made herself remarkably conversant with architecture, history, and many kindred subjects. This knowledge she has arranged in the form of a number of lectures which she has delivered in various places in the Lehigh Valley and elsewhere.
TRAILL GREEN, M.D., LL.D .- "Types of all that is best in the med- ical profession merit more than passing notice because of their rarity and their power in guiding the masses, both within and without the fold. Types
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in certain particulars are not infrequent, but types of the full rounded physi- cian grafted upon a complete manhood are less common." To this latter class belonged Dr. Traill Green. His was a wondrous natural endowment : a bod that withstood the battles of life far beyond its extreme limit ; a mind that never flagged till the passing of his latest breath ; and a soul that rose above every discouragement, firm in its faith in the ultimate triumph of rectitude, truth, honor, and godliness. All this endowment, during his four- score of years, was freel placed at the service of his fellows. In the broadest and best sense he was ever a teacher, a teacher of the people, young and old, in all matters pertaining to their best interests; a teacher of teachers who lived and taught as the had been inspired by him.
Could a score of men each pen a biography of Dr. Traill Green there would be found a wealth of tribute and appreciation that would cover a wide and varied field of human knowledge and endeavor, for the elements of his life were so many that he found points of contact and friendship where appar- ently onl dissimilarit of views and nature existed. Thus there were those who knew him best as the learned physician, others who regarded his educa- tional work as his greatest movement, another class who venerated him for his deeds of charity and benevolence, still others who most admired his high minded zeal in public service, more who saw in his love of nature the clearer index of true greatness, and so on, for there was that in Dr. Green that both provoked and responded to the greatness of other men, giving him a kinship with his fellows that was their most cherished possession.
Descendant of an English family old in the eastern part of the country, Dr. Traill Green was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, May 25, 1813, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Traill) Green, and died April 29, 1897. He attended the Faston Union Academy and Minerva Academy, in the latter institution coming under the teaching of the Rev. John Van Derveer, a Christian gen- tleman whose exemplary life was a great inspiration to the young student. There he diligently applied himself to study, and a copy of Buffois Natural [Tistory falling into his hands he decided to make nature the study of his life. The study of medicine he felt to be the key to this realm of mysteries, and be registered with Dr. Joseph K. Swift as a student of medicine. JIc then went to the University of Pennsylvania, and after two full courses, under the advice of his preceptor, enrolled himself under Dr. J. K. Mitchell, pro- fessor of medicine in Chapman's Institute. After three full courses in that university and Chapman's Institute he was graduated in 1835 with the degree of MD. After graduation he was appointed physician of the Fifth Street Dispensary, attending outdoor patients and holding clinics, and in that period formed the habit of keeping exhaustive records of his cases, a practice he continued throughout his entire professional life.
After this valuable preliminary experience in the dispensary he returned to Easton in 1836, having determined, in the course of his medical studies, to be a teacher of chemistry. In Easton he formed a class of young people and their parents and taught them chemistry in his office at night. His enthu- siasm in this subject was probably the cause of his being elected, in 1837, professor of chemistry of Lafayette College, when his long and notable con- nection with the college began. Even as a teacher he remained the tireless student. Botany had long been a well loved subject, and after returning to Easton he studied minerology under his old preceptor, whose fine collection of minerals is now the property of Lafayette College. Dr. Green at this time began his own collections, which is an interesting and valuable one. Geology and zoology came in for their full share of attention, and he also observed accurately the climatic conditions, retaining his variety of interests even under the most adverse conditions.
In 18jf Dr. Green accepted a call from Marshall College, Mercersburg, to the chair of Natural Sciences. For seven years he labored under the
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pleasantest circumstances in Mercersburg, devoting his entire time to the teaching of his favorite subjects, the sciences. With the exception of a course of lectures on physiology and hygiene and an occasional call as consultant in difficult cases, he had no medical duties at the college. Ile returned to Easton in 1848, and in 1849 was reappointed to the chair of Chemistry in Lafayette College. In addition to his lecture course at the college and an extensive practice he found time for other work, "in the flower season ao often as he could running out to hold converse in their wild haunts with the sweet gifts of our loving Father." He had classes of bo s and girls in bot- any, and it was a rare season when he was not instructing someone in the natural sciences.
Lafayette College was literally engraved on his heart. It can be said without fear of successful contradiction that no man has made a finer, few as fine, contribution to the college than it was his delight to make. For more than half a century he gave with cheerful, unselfish devotion of his service, money, time and influence to add to its greatness and usefulness, and he filled its every official position, professor of chemistry, trustee, acting president, chairman of the building committee, member of the prudential committee, dean and general advisor. He gave his professional service to everyone connected with the faculty for absolutely nothing during all his professional life. The Ob- servatory was his gift, the buildings and furnishings being given on the con- dition that his name should be unmentioned. President W. C. Cattell. speak- ing at the laying of the cornerstone, said in his usual happy vein, that "the donor was too modest to allow his name to be mentioned and he felt that he could not violate confidence, but he knew that whoever he was, his name would be green in the memories of all true lovers of Lafayette." His life held the story of many sacrifices for this college that filled so large a place in his love, and even his death brought the gift of his books and collection of minerals. There is not a timber in Lafayette College which has not been hallowed by the loving care and fervent prayers of Dr. Green.
In the relation of the citizen to his city and State, Dr. Green met the most exacting requirements. He paved the way for many reforms by public lectures, his speeches on the evils of graveyards in crowded places suggest- ing a movement for the establishment of the Easton Cemetery. There is not an instance in his whole life which illustrates better his firmness than his resistance of the attempts of the Easton and Northern Railroad to lay its tracks through the cemetery grounds. He fought this desecration of the "city of the dead" for many years, and the company was compelled to run' its tracks along other surveys. His lectures on public lighting had much to do with the successful introduction of gas in Easton ; his firm stand against public wells crystallized an opposition which resulted in their abolition : he fought, supported by the scientific truths and facts that only a physician can really appreciate, the liquor traffic and was president of the Temperance Society in his county. He never was interested in politics, as more fertile fields claimed him, but when his fellows placed him in official position he laid aside his preferences and gave of his best. His knowledge of educational matters and his standing in the world of letters caused them to place him on the Board of Control, on which he served for ten years, retiring voluntarily after serving for eight years as president of the board. For twenty four years he used his professional knowledge in the service of the State as trustee of the Insane Hospital at Harrisburg, having been appointed successively by Governors Geary, Hartranft, Hoyt, Beaver and Pattison, and in 1868 the Legislature appointed him one of the commissioners to build a new insane hospital at Danville. In 1892 Dr. Green was a presidential elector.
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