USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume II > Part 49
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PULLIS IERARY
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The American Histori al Societ,
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Henry & Steckel.
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special course in pulmonary and throat disorders, under Professor Cohen, of Jefferson Post-Graduate College, after which he joined his father in practice at Dryland, there continuing until 1888, when he located in private general practice in Easton, Pennsylvania. Thirty years have since intervened, years of professional success, which places him among the leading physicians of his city. Dr. Walter is a member of the staff of Easton Hospital, member of Northampton County Medical Society, Pennsylvania State Medical Society, American Medical Association, and holds the unqualified respect of his brethren of the profession. In politics he is a Democrat, popular in the party and a leader in civic affairs. He was elected controller of Northampton county in 1917 for a term of four years, now half expired. He is a member of the Jacksonian Club, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
Dr. Walter married, June 20, 1888, Susie Hess, daughter of Francis and Mary (Ritter) Hess, of Terre Haute, Indiana. Dr. and Mrs. Walter are the parents of two sons: Francis Z., a graduate of George Washington Uni- versity, law department, who served as ensign in the aerial branch of the United States Navy, serving with the American Expeditionary Force in France ; Robert D., a soldier of the United States Army, assigned to the Motor Service Supply Department, serving with the American Expeditionary Force in Northern France.
HENRY F. STECKEL-While Northampton county was still a part of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, Christian Steckel settled in its western part. He secured a patent for two hundred and sixty-six acres from the Penns in 1736, and that ycar made settlement at what is now Egypt, Lehigh county. The walls of the stone house which he built thereon were of massive thick- ness, and the building, thirty-five by forty feet, served the dual purpose of a dwelling and a fort of refuge for the settlers in the event of an Indian attack. The old fortress home still stands in good condition, and is owned in the Steckel family. Christian Steckel married Maria Baer, and they were the parents of five sons and five daughters.
(II) Daniel Steckel, son of Christian and Maria (Baer) Steckel, was born September 1, 1767, and died a centenarian, September 18, 1868. He resided at the homestead until manhood, then became one of the early settlers of Bath, Pennsylvania, and became the founder of that branch of the family. He acquired the "Steckel tract" at Bath, partly by purchase and through his wife. Rebecca (Jones) Steckel, her father, Jesse Jones, having been the original owner. Later on Daniel Steckel invested in more land in and near Bath, and subsequently purchased the tannery, which had been established by Jesse Jones, his father-in-law. For many years thereafter he conducted both the farm and tannery and prospered abundantly. In those days there was prac- tically no local market for leather, and he, therefore, was compelled to market his products in Philadelphia and New York City, where the original John Jacob Astor and the Lorillards were keen competitors for his goods. A short distance from the tannery he built a stone mansion, that later became the property of his grandson, Henry Franklin Steckel, of Easton. He was a Democrat in politics, and a pillar of the Reformed church at Bath, especially helpful when the then new church was erected. He gave liberally of his time to public affairs, and was held in high esteem by his townsmen. As his years grew heavy he became of additional interest to his friends and fellow citizens, and when the century mark was reached, the day was made the occasion of public celebration and rejoicing in his honor. His memory was most remark- able, and even when a centenarian it seemed not greatly impaired. He lived to the great age of one hundred and one years, and carried with him to the grave the esteem and respect of his entire community. Daniel Steckel mar- ried Rebecca Jones, of Bath, Pennsylvania, and was survived by daughters,
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Sarah, Hannah and Elizabeth; and by sons, Daniel, Jr., Joseph, through whom this branch is traced, and Peter a sergeant of the War of 1812, and sheriff of Northampton county, 1841-44.
(III) Joseph Steckel, son of Daniel and Rebecca (Jones) Steckel, was born at the homestead at Bath, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1806, and died at his own home at Bath, in 1872, surviving his father but four years. He attended the district school after the fashion of the day, and carly became his father's assistant at the tannery. As he became expert, he succeeded his father in that branch of business and became its head. But he also became the owner of land and managed a large farm in connection with his tannery. He was a good business man, very energetic and very successful. He was a member of the Reformed church, and a man of honorable, upright life. Joseph Steckel married Elizabeth Scholl, born in Moore township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in 1809, she surviving her husband many years, passing away March 6, 1898, in her ninetieth year. They were the parents of a son, Henry Franklin, who is of further mention, and of two daughters, Susan A. and Elizabeth, both deceased.
(IV) Henry Franklin Steckel, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Scholl) Steckel, was born at Bath, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1829, and is now a retired resident of Easton, Pennsylvania, where he cele- brated his ninetieth birthday, February 25, 1919, and bidding fair to rival his grandfather in length of years. After primary training at Bath schools, he became an attendant at the Vanderveer School in Easton, a well known insti- tution, second to none of its class. After leaving school, the young man took up the study of law on January 11, 1848, under the preceptorship of Matthew Hale Jones, an eminent lawyer of the Northampton county bar, and April 22, 1851, was admitted a member of that bar. He began practice in Easton the same year, but in 1854 was elected prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton county, a position for which his fitness was strikingly apparent. He held the prothonotary's office two terms of three years each, from. 1855 to 1861, then returned to the private practice of his profession, bearing the approval of his brethren of the bar for his able administration of the office. He continued practice until 1864, then succeeded his father as head of the Bath tannery business, the senior Steckel retiring. For three years he continued his law practice, in connection with the management of the tannery, but in 1867 the state of his health demanded that he curb his activities and he abandoned the law. That year he removed his residence to Bath, where he purchased the "Wilson Estate" in the Scotch-Irish Settlement, and soon was completely restored to health. A few years later he returned to Easton, where he still resides, his home on the highest point of Mount Jefferson, at the head of Spring Garden and North Fifth street. There he is spending an honored, contented evening of life, free from all business cares. After returning to Easton, he engaged in no business activity further than caring for his own property interests.
Henry Franklin Steckel married, June 20, 1866, Anna M. Whitesell, daughter of Daniel Whitesell, who was born in 1816 in Nazareth township, and his wife, Catherine (Messinger) Whitesell, born in 1816 in Forks town- ship, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, of an old Northampton county family. Daniel Whitesell was a son of Henry Whitesell, born in Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1789, and his wife, Julia (Correll) Whitesell, born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Steckel arc the parents of a daughter, Jennie M., and a son, Daniel E., of further mention. After almost fifty years of married life the happy union was broken by the passing away of Mrs. Steckel on July 9, 1914. In her home she possessed not only the noble traits of a devoted wife and mother, but she also rendered her hus- band great assistance by her remarkable insight into his varied business affairs.
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DANIEL E. STECKEL-Daniel E. Steckel, only son of Henry F. and Anna M. (Whitesell) Steckel, was born at Easton, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1880, in the old Steckel homestead at 48 Center square.
After a short period spent at private school, he entered the public schools of the city of Easton, and graduated from the Easton High School with the class of 1899. The following fall he entered Lafayette College, and graduated with the class of 1903. At college he became a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity. After leaving college, Mr. Steckel registered as a student at law in the law office of Parke H. Davis, Esquire, where he remained for one year, but in the fall of 1904 he entered the law school of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated with the class of 1907. On March 3, 1908, he was admitted to the bar of Northampton county, and shortly thereafter to the bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Pennsylvania.
In addition to the practice of his chosen profession, Mr. Steckel has during the past dozen years been identified as a director with some of the large manufacturing and financial interests of the city and county. Together with his legal work he also has been engaged in the management of some of the largest individual real estate holdings in the city and county. As an original member and vice-president of the Easton Motorists' Association, he has been greatly interested in the promotion of good roads throughout this section of the State, and as a member of the Kiwanis Club he is deeply concerned in the civic improvement of his home town.
On June 26, 1912, Mr. Steckel was married to Mabel N. Simmons, of an old New England family, being a descendant of William Bradford, who came over in the Mayflower and was the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Their only child, Henry Franklin, 2nd, was born on "Mount Jeffer- son," Easton, Pennsylvania, July 18, 1914.
WILLIAM KOLB-Now a retired boatman, lock tender and storekeeper, and nearing his eightieth year in his native Easton, South Side, William Kolb's connection carries back to days when South Easton was a cultivated farm ; when the schoolhouse in which his first teacher, J. J. Oakil, a Massachusetts pedagogue, taught school on the corner of Center and Canal streets; when there were no railroads, but canal boats and stage coaches were the accepted modes of travel, and he the manager of a team of mules which furnished the propelling power for one of these canal boats. In fact, his life from boyhood until 1881 was closely connected with the old canal and its operation. Al- though rated as retired, Mr. Kolb conducts a real estate business, and in 1917 finished six new brick houses on Berwick avenue, just east of his home, sure evidence that he is retired only in name.
William Kolb is a son of John Frederick Kolb, born in Bohnbechen, Ger- many, in 1815, who to escape dreaded military service came to the United States at the age of sixteen, sailing from Antwerp, Belgium, and arriving at Baltimore, Maryland. His mother came on the same ship, the voyage cover- ing a period of seventy-three days, heavy storms being encountered which drove the ship off her course, steam not then having superseded sail power. At Baltimore they bought a big covered wagon and teain, and by that means reached Easton, Pennsylvania, which had been their objective from the begin- ning. John F. Kolb worked first at farming, later helped to rebuild the canal, and when it was completed helped in its operation. When the railroad build- ing era arrived he formed a partnership with Jacob Steinmetz, and contracted to build four miles of the Lehigh Valley railroad bed. Their section included the then well-known "Dead Man's Curve," and another equally well known, "Champagne Curve." Later John F. Kolb established a store at the canal lock at the foot of Abbott street, Easton, and conducted that enterprise until his death in 1865. He married, in South Easton, Catherine Sophia Fulda, born in the same German village as her husband, and when thirteen years of
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age came to the United States in the same ship which brought the Kolbs. She died June 20, 1910, aged ninety-two years. They were the parents of an only child, William Kolb, to whom this review is inscribed.
William Kolb was born at the family home, corner of Center and Jane streets, Easton, South Side, June 14, 1839. He attended the school at the corner of Center and Canal streets, which was largely attended in the winter months by boys who worked on the canal during the months the canal was open to navigation. Some of these boys were from seventeen to twenty years of age, and the Yankee school teacher, having very strict ideas of dis- cipline, had his hands full. No child of that school was ever spoiled through a too infrequent use of the rod, but he was a good teacher, and after the boys realized that he meant only what was good for them they did not make seri- ous trouble. From that little schoolhouse and from under the teaching of the Yankee schoolmaster, J. J. Oakil, boys went out to lives of usefulness. One of the boys of that school, Robert Klotz, became a United States Congress- man, and another, Allen Craig, rose to the judgeship of Carbon county, Penn- sylvania. Only the three R's and geography were taught, and Greenleaf's Arithmetic was the mathematical guide. The school year extended from October to April, but a great deal was accomplished in that period toward fit- ting the boys and girls for the battle of life. While attending this school William Kolb also helped in his father's store during the morning and evening hours out of school, the store standing at the old Lehigh Valley railroad station. After school days were over he obtained work on the canal as mule driver and boat steerer, his wages during that period of his life being eight, then ten dollars monthly, with board. One of the boats he worked on was called the Henry Wilbur, and was owned by his father. Until the age of twenty-four he continued on the canal, then, in 1863, his father died, and William Kolb succeeded him in the ownership and management of the store. He was also appointed lock tender, the store being near the lock at the foot of Abbott street, and until 1881 he attended to the duties of that position and operated the store.
In 1881 Mr. Kolb disposed of his store business, resigned his position as lock tender, and moved to a house he had built at the corner of Coal and Berwick streets, his being one of the finest homes and the only brick house on the hill at that time. Ile began dealing in real estate after retiring from this store, and has ever since been more or less interested in realty dealing and building. He has built many homes in South Easton, has rebuilt, en- larged, and improved many others, and as late as the autumn of 1917 was making constant additions to his renting properties, his latest being the com- pletion of six brick residences on Berwick street. Mr. Kolb voted for Abra- ham Lincoln for President, but most of his life he has acted with the Demo- cratic party. He is a member of both lodge and encampment of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and when fourteen years of age was con- firmed by Rev. J. J. Hecht, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church. Some years ago he and his wife transferred their membership to Zion Reformed Church.
William Kolb married, July 11, 1863, Anna Marie Keiper, at the old Keiper homestead on Sixth street, Easton, October 16, 1843. She was edu- cated in the old schoolhouse which stood on Seventh street, her first teacher, Miss Susan Yeager, of Hellertown, Pennsylvania. She was confirmed a mem- ber of St. John's Lutheran Church when seventeen years of age by Rev. Mr. Sadler, the then pastor, and all her life until some years ago she continued that membership. Mrs. Kolb is a daughter of Jacob and Maria Keiper, who were the parents of seven children: Mary, deceased wife of Charles Casler ; Jacob, deceased, married Sarah Snyder ; Leonora, died in June, 1916, wife of Jackson Hay; Anna Marie, wife of William Kolb; Alice, married William Helvich, and resides in Brooklyn, New York; Amelia, died unmarried, as did
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William, the youngest child. Mr. and Mrs. Kolb celebrated the golden anni- versary of their wedding day, July 11, 1913, and five additional milestones have since passed. They have been mutually helpful, Mrs. Kolb always a true helpmeet in all her husband's business enterprises, and he recognizing that her help was valuable. They are the parents of two children: 1. Bertha S., married Henry C. Miller, of Easton, and they have issue; Herman W. and Esther Cochrane Miller. 2. Luther Fields, a sketch of whom follows.
LUTHER FIELDS KOLB-Luther F. Kolb, only son of William and Anna Marie (Keiper) Kolb, was born at the homestead, Coal and Berwick streets, Easton, Pennsylvania, November 25, 1879. He attended the public schools of the city until sixteen years of age, after which he completed a two years' course of study at Woods Business College. He then entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company as a machinist's apprentice, under Master Mechanic Ammon Turner. He served four years at the Lehigh shops, then spent four years in the West traveling and investigating mostly. In Ogden, Utah, he was employed as a machinist in railroad construction for a time. He returned to Easton in 1910, and soon afterward was appointed a member of the city fire department, and assigned to Fire Company No. 4. Ile has since been continuously connected with the department, and during the administration of Dr. B. Rush Field, as mayor of Easton, was appointed captain. He was captain of No. 4 for two years, then that rank was abolished in the department. He is a member of Columbia Lodge, No. 139, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows; Easton Eyrie, Fraternal Order of Eagles ; and Easton Lodge, Patriotic Sons of America.
Mr. Kolb married, in June, 1911, in Easton, Helen Aicher, of Easton, daughter of Florence and Salvina Aicher, and they are the parents of a daughter, Anna S. Kolb. Mr. and Mrs. Kolb reside at No. 940 Berwick street, Easton. Both are members of Zion Lutheran Church, he a Republican in his political faith.
WILLIAM LAWRENCE ESTES, M.D .- Dr. William Lawrence Estes, son of Albert Monroe and Marcia Burton (Owen) Estes, both of Virginia birth and family, was born at the paternal plantation near Brownsville, Ten- nessee, November 28, 1855. After preparation in private schools he entered Bethel College, Russellville, Kentucky. Illness prevented him completing the course with his class, but he studied with private tutors, and had the degree of A.M. conferred by the college in 1893. Choosing the profession of medicine as his life work, he entered the medical department of the Univer- sity of Virginia, in 1875, and in 1877 received from the university his degree of M.D. He spent a year in post-graduate work in the medical college of New York University, that institution also conferring M.D. upon him in 1878. Two years were then spent as interne'in Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York City, followed by one year as chief of the house staff of that hospital. Ile then engaged in general practice in New York, continuing until 1881, when he was appointed superintendent of St. Luke's Hospital. South Bethlehem, Penn- sylvania, a post he held until 1883. In that year, while continuing as superin- tendent, he was also appointed physician and surgeon-in-chief. In 1889 he was appointed director, physician and surgeon-in-chief, positions which he yet holds after a lifetime of devotion to duty, the highest possible, the alle- viation of suffering and the saving of life.
St. Luke's Hospital now consists of the men's pavilion, the Bethlehem Steel Company's pavilion, the Woman's pavilion, the Coxe ward, obstetrical pavilion, the Liberty pavilion for men, a students' isolation pavilion. an X-ray laboratory, two isolation pavilions, a pathological laboratory, a dispensary and operating room, an administration room, and a three-story building for pay cases is planned. The upbuilding of this wonderful institution of heal-
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ing and good to mankind is the life work of Dr. Estes, and he has reared for himself a monument which shall forever endure and into which he has worked his spirit and personality until it pervades every department, ward or room. But St. Luke's has not been able to completely absorb Dr. Estes, and since 1883 he has been lecturer on physiology and hygiene at Lehigh University. His contributions to the literature of his profession have been many, his work, "Treatment of Fractures," being an authority. He contributed to Keen's "System of Surgery" a chapter on surgery of accidents, and has pre- pared many papers read before medical and surgical societies which have appeared in the medical journals. He was chief surgeon of the Lehigh Val- ley railroad, 1886-1904, and is an honorary member of the New York State Rail- way Surgeons' Association. He is a member of the American Medical Associa- tion ; Pennsylvania State Medical Society ; a fellow of the American Academy of Medicine; fellow of the American College of Surgeons; fellow of Ameri- can Surgical Society, member of Lehigh Valley Medical Association; cor- responding member of the Philadelphia College of Physicians; member of the University Club of Philadelphia, the Lehigh Country Club, and Phila- delphia Medical Club. During the war period, 1917-18, the doors of St. Luke's were thrown wide open to admit soldiers from Camp Crane at Allentown, members of the United States Army Ambulance Corps, to enable them to receive instruction in training for service overseas. Dr. Estes was also head of the advisory committee appointed for war work at the hospital, the duties of that board being to examine doubtful cases sent them by the selective service board. He is also an active member of the local Committee of Public Safety. He is a man devoted to his profession, one of his quoted remarks being, "The strength and happiness of a community and of all communities depends upon the health, using the word in its broad Anglo-Saxon sense, of the individual members of the community."
Dr. Estes keenly enjoys the out-of-door sports with gun and rod, his motor being a great source of pleasure to him also, but perhaps no recreation or sport so delights him as his days in the fields with his dogs hunting the game, quail, or partridge.
OSMAN F. REINHARD-Entering the financial field after a fifteen years' period of service with the Lehigh Valley railroad, Mr. Reinhard is now (1919) a prominent figure in banking in Bethlehem, serving as vice-president of the South Bethlehem National Bank and vice-president of the Bethlehem Bankers' Association. In fraternal affiliation, in public-spirited interest and activity in civic affairs, and in the many other ties of good citizenship, he is closely bound to this city and locality, where his family is of long residence and worthy standing. Mr. Reinhard is a son of J. Daniel and Elizabeth (Jacob) Reinhard, his father one of the first marble cutters in Northampton county.
Osman F. Reinhard was born at Friedens Church, near Slatington, Le- high county, Pennsylvania, October 9, 1855. He attended the public schools, and as youth and young man worked at marble cutting under his father's instruction, serving an apprenticeship and continuing with the elder Reinhard until 1876. In this year he was appointed to a clerkship in the office of the county recorder of deeds at Easton, his three years of service in this capacity following employment as bookkeeper by H. A. Sage & Company. Late in 1881 he entered the office of the general superintendent of the Lehigh Valley railroad, where he remained for ten years. His association with the business of banking began in 1893, when he became teller of the Easton Trust Com- pany, and was interrupted after two years by his return to the office of the general superintendent of the Lehigh Valley railroad. On June 3, 1897, he was elected cashier of the South Bethlehem National Bank. Until 1917 he continued cashier, his duties and responsibilities far in excess of the usual
Orman Reinhard
THE NE YO K PUBLIC LIDPARY
ASTA IINOX AND R
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routine of that office, and in that year he was elected to the vice-presidency, his present office. During the twenty-two years of his official connection with the South Bethlehem National Bank he has given of his best to make it the sound and useful institution that it is, his share in its vigorous growth being recognized and credited by his colleagues in its direction.
The immense volume of government securities of all kinds handled in the Bethlehem district during the period of the United States' participation in the World War necessitated the close cooperation of the banking frater- nity, and out of the Bankers' Committee formed to meet the unusual condi- tions grew the Bethlehem Bankers' Association, a peace time organization that has already proved its value to financial leaders and to the community in general. Of this association, in whose organization he took an active part, Mr. Reinhard is vice-president. In local affairs, unconnected with banking, he has taken great interest. He has been for twenty years treasurer and director of the Lehigh Valley Cold Storage Company ; is secretary-treasurer and director of the South Bethlehem Knitting Mills; director of the South Side Business Association of Bethlehem; member of the Lehigh County Historical Society, Moravian Historical Society, Pennsylvania German So- ciety, Protestant Episcopal Church of the Nativity pro Cathedral. He was very active in the war loan and war chest campaigns. The consolidation of the boroughs into greater . Bethlehem was a measure for whose success he worked enthusiastically, while he also was a strong supporter of the great "hill to hill" bridge project. He is a member of the Masonic order, belong- ing to H. Stanley Goodwin Lodge, No. 648, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is treasurer; Ezra Chapter, No. 291, Royal Arch Masons, and also treasurer ; Bethlehem Council, No. 36, Royal and Select Masters ; Bethlehem Commandery, No. 90, Knights Templar; and Mary Conclave, No. 5, Red Cross of Constantine; Caldwell Consistory, Thirty-second Degree, Blooms- burg, Pennsylvania; and the Masonic Veterans' Association. He is widely known and popular in his city, in whose progress and prosperity he is deeply concerned.
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