History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume III, Part 18

Author: Heller, William Jacob; American Historical Society, Inc
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Boston ; New York [etc.] : The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 574


USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume III > Part 18


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William A. Titus, son of William and Sarah A. (Gray) Titus, was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1856, and was educated in the public schools of the city. After completing his school years, he was engaged in business activities, varied in their nature, until the year 1880, when he formed an association with the H. G. Tombler Grocery Company, of Easton, a con- nection which has never been broken. He became the firm's purchasing agent in 1891, and in 1901 was admitted a partner. The firm became a corporation in 1907, Mr. Titus being vice-president of the company, but retains his posi- tion as head of the purchasing department. Early in 1919, the H. G. Tombler Grocery Company merged with Eberts & Company, of Bethlehem, and the M. H. Strauss Company, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, now trading under the corporate name of Davies, Strauss, Stauffer Company. Mr. Titus was one of the prime movers in bringing about the merger, and he is a director and one of the principal stockholders in the corporation. The company is a very large and successful one, dealing solely in groceries by wholesale, their sales- men covering territory within a radius of fifty miles, with Easton as a center. While a man entirely devoted to business, Mr. Titus indulges the social side of his nature in fraternal associations with his fellow.men and is a member of various organizations, including the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is a Democrat ; in religious pref- erence, a Presbyterian.


Mr. Titus married, March 13, 1878, Rebecca Van Norman, daughter of Isaac Van Norman, of Phillipsburg, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Titus are the parents of three daughters and a son: Edna; Raymond, married Mame Unangst, and has a son, William; Fannie, married John Rauschwendel, and has a son, John; and Emily. This is but a brief record of five generations of the Titus family in Easton, the grandchildren of William A. Titus constituting the sixth generation. The heads of the first four generations are shown as men of strong business ability and progressive public spirit, each filling well the station in life to which they were called. Their forbears furnish an example of inspiration to the present generations, and in their keeping the honor of the name is secure.


CHAUNCEY A. REESE-Now serving his third term as city engineer of Easton, Pennsylvania, Mr. Reese is rounding out a long term of service as public and private engineer, his public service also including a three years' term as county engineer. In official or professional capacity he has passed upon many of the great public and private improvements in Easton during the past quarter of a century, and as engineer and superintendent has both planned and superintended much of the construction. He was born in Phil- lipsburg, New Jersey, his father, Charles Reese, a substantial merchant of that


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city for many years, he a son of Philip Reese, one of the old-time residents of Warren county, New Jersey. Philip Reese owned land and operated a line of river boats between Easton and Philadelphia. Charles Reese, while engaged in merchandising in Phillipsburg, also taught school for several years and took an active part in town affairs. He died in Phillipsburg, aged eighty-one years. He married Mary Lesher, and they were the parents of Chauncey A. Reese, of Easton.


Chauncey A. Reese was born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, August 30, 1869, and there completed public school education. He finished his studies at Trach's Academy, Easton, Pennsylvania, and soon afterward began study under Marshall Young, a prominent civil engineer of Easton. He continued study under Mr. Young and other instructors for some years, was in the engineering service of the Quaker Portland Cement Company, and with the Bath Portland Cement Company in the same capacity for four years, after which he established a private civil engineering business with offices in Easton. Until September, 1912, he was engaged in private practice with the exception of three years spent in the service of Northampton county as county engineer, and for a time his old preceptor, Marshall Young, was associated with him. Since September, 1912, Mr. Reese has been engineer for the city of Easton, having been twice re-elected to that office. Many radical changes have been brought about through the efforts of the city engineer's office since Mr. Reese's induction into office ; street lighting, garbage disposal and street improvement are features which have been especially improved, and a sewage system is being planned which will be a long step forward when completed. Among the streets improved, those most noticeable are: Front street, from Bushkill Bridge to Spring Garden street; Spring Garden street from Front to Fourth street; Fifth street, from Ferry to Northampton street; Northampton street, from Seventh to Fifteenth street; Lehigh street, from Fourth to Sit- greaves street. Sewers have been built from Bushkill street to McCartney street, from Mixsell street, from Monroe to Wayne avenue, and other less important sections have been completed. Mr. Reese is an active Republican, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Kiwanis Club.


Mr. Reese married, in August, 1895, Idella V. Heller, daughter of Thomas J. and Louisa Heller. The family home is No. 207 South Sixth street, Easton.


JOHN MARSHALL YOUNG-For nearly a half a century Mr. Young has practiced his profession of civil and mechanical engineering in Easton, Pennsylvania, beginning in 1871. He is a native of Easton, as was his father and grandfather, and traces descent on both sides to Colonial times, having had a number of ancestors actively engaged in the Revolution. The Youngs were manufacturers of rifles at that period, and made many of the rifles car- ried by the Continental soldiers during the eight years' struggle for inde- pendence.


John Marshall Young is a grandson of Peter Young and his wife, Anna Kachlein, she being the daughter of Col. Peter Kachlein. Peter Young was married in 1808. He was the father of thirteen children. The father of John Marshall Young was Henry Jacob Young, who for upwards of fifty years was connected with the firm of Young & Slough, and was one of the pro- prietors of the Eagle Foundry & Machine Company, located at the southeast corner of Ferry and Sitgreaves streets, in the city of Easton. Henry Jacob Young was born in Easton, in November, 1816. He married, January 27, 1842, Louisa Sherwood, who was born August 26, 1821, in German Valley, New Jersey, she being the daughter of Dr. Ebenezer Knapp and Elizabeth (Hon- nell) Sherwood. Dr. E. K. Sherwood was born in Connecticut, and was a graduate of Williams College. He was a grandson of Ebenezer Knapp, who took a very prominent part in the Revolutionary War.


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John Marshall Young was born in Easton, October 2, 1850. His prelimi- nary education was received in the public schools of Easton. He then entered Lafayette College, class of 1871. Upon leaving college in 1871, he at once began professional work under the late Peter Brady, a well known civil engi- neer. In 1873 he began business under his own name, and soon established a clientele among mining operators, railroad and canal builders, doing water supply, sanitary and general engineering practice. For about five years he was engineer for the borough of Easton, Phillipsburg, New Jersey, and the towns in other parts of the county. When the borough became a city he was its first city engineer. He was regularly elected county surveyor for two terms, and was engineer for the Board of County Commissioners for two terms. While serving in this capacity, he designed and built eighteen rein- forced concrete bridges for the county. Among these was the South Third street bridge over the Lehigh river in Easton, and was also in charge of the construction of the Broad street bridge in Bethlehem. He was the engineer and one of the originators of one of the three first electric passenger street railways in the United States, viz .: Lafayette Traction Company, afterwards the Penn Motor Company, and was president of said company up to the time of its sale to the Easton Transit Company, now part of the Lehigh Valley Traction Company's system. He was also the designer and engineer in charge of the construction of numerous water and gas plants, a great deal of his work having been done in other States than Pennsylvania. Mr. Young is a lifelong Republican.


Mr. Young married, in Easton, October 7, 1880, Sarah Frances Lake, of Easton, daughter of Nelson and Nancy (Snyder) Lake, of a New Jersey fam- ily, originally belonging to the Society of Friends. Mr. and Mrs. Young are the parents of a son, Henry Sherwood Young, born at Easton, January 2, 1884. He was educated in the Easton public schools, attended Lafayette College in the class of 1905, and is now engaged in business in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On September 7, 1917, he married Ruth Norton Kiggins, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, daughter of Symmes C. and Annie (Norton) Kiggins.


ROBERT D. BURKERT-After deciding to become an undertaker and funeral director, Mr. Burkert took a full course at Eckel's College of Embalm- ing and Sanitary Science, and on June 1, 1917, established business at No. 71I Berwick street, Easton, South Side. He was the son of Daniel K. and Martha J. (Bowes) Burkert, his father a Lehigh Valley locomotive engineer. Daniel K. Burkert was born in Schuylkill county, Martha J. Bowes in Northampton county, Pennsylvania. Prior to their marriage, she had been for several years a teacher in the county public school. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel K. Burkert are members, respectively, of St. Peter's Reformed Church and of the Second Methodist Episcopal Church. Their home is at No. 744 Milton avent-, Easton.


Robert D. Burkert was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, July 27, 1894, and died October 17, 1918. He attended the public schools of the city until com- pleting the grades, then took a business course at the Easton College of Business, there finishing his school work. The next three years were spent in the office service of the Edison Portland Cement Company, after which he entered the College of Embalming previously named, and there fitted himself for the undertaking business. He established himself in public favor and met with nothing but encouragement during his two years in business in South Easton.


He was a member of the Northampton County Funeral Directors' Asso- ciation ; Columbia Lodge No. 139, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; F. P. A. No. 597; Camp No. 173, Patriotic Order Sons of America ; Lodge No. 3, Daughters of Rebekah; Schubert Choral Society, and the Alumni Association of Eckel's College of Embalming. He was a


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member of the choir of St. Peter's Reformed Church, and an active worker in the Sunday school, teaching a class and serving as president of the South Heidelberg League of the church.


A feature of Mr. Burkert's establishment, in addition to his modern equipment for caring for the dead, was his arrangements for conducting funerals from his own spacious parlors, where it was so desired. He found this a great convenience in many cases, and freely offered his rooms to all who desired them on such occasions.


REUBEN STANLEY RAUB, M.D .- In 1907, when Dr. Reuben Stanley Raub began his practice of medicine, he revived a title long and honorably borne by his grandfather, Dr. John W. Raub, born in 1798, whose family home was on the Delaware river, north of Easton. Dr. John W. Raub was well known for his skill in the healing art, and won such fame in his profession that he was called to all parts of Northampton county, and frequently was sought in consultation far beyond its borders. He was a descendant of early forebears who settled on the Delaware, at what later became Raubsville, where they purchased land from John Penn, a part of which has never since been out of the Raub name. Dr. John W. Raub married (second) Sarah Eberhart, and among their children was a son Jacob.


(II) Jacob Raub, son of Dr. John W. and Sarah (Eberhart) Raub, was born at the family home on the Delaware, just north of Easton, in 1856, and is now living a retired life in the city in which his life has been spent. After finishing his studies he learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1875 began con- tracting. He has to his credit over one thousand substantial buildings erected under his supervision in Easton and vicinity, including the Cottingham and Packer School buildings, the Moravian and Evangelical churches, and the Easton Silk Mill in South Easton. He was equally influential and prominent in public affairs, serving as councilman continuously from 1882 until 1892, serving as president of Select Council during the latter part of that period. In 1903 he was made a member of the Board of Control, and all his life he has been one of the men whose public spirit and progressiveness has been dis- played in every effort made to advance Easton's interests. He married, in 1876, Arevesta A. Arner, daughter of Reuben Arner. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom Reuben Stanley was the third son.


(III) Dr. Reuben Stanley Raub, son of Jacob and Arevesta A. (Arner) Raub, was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, October 1, 1883. He obtained his preparatory education in Easton public schools and Lerch's Preparatory School, his classical education at Lafayette College, his professional training in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, finishing with the degree M.D., class of 1905. The two following years were spent in service as interne and resident physician at Delaware Hospital, Wilmington, Dela- ware, and St. Christopher's Children's Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1907 he returned to Easton, where he has since been continuously engaged in the practice of his profession as a general practitioner, but devoting a large part of his time and skill to the treatment of diseases of children. He has fully demonstrated his professional ability, and is well established in the favor of a large clientele. He is a member of the Northampton County Medical Society, Pennsylvania State Medical Society, American Medical Association, and Guiteras Medical Society of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Raub is a Democrat in politics, a member of the First Reformed Church, Delta Upsilon fraternity, and Easton Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.


Dr. Raub married, September 10, 1914, Edwina A. Kugelman, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Taylor) Kugelman, of New York City. When at college Dr. Raub was prominent in athletics, playing on both football and baseball teams, nor has he lost his love for such sports. He is fond of fishing, hunting, motoring and all manly sports of the out-of-doors.


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GEORGE REUSS-A native son of Easton, Alderman George Reuss has there pursued his calling, cigarmaker, continuously all his active working years. The family is noted for steadfastness, old Eastonians easily recalling John Reuss, who for half a century made their shoes and kept them in repair. He was the father of John Reuss, and the son inherits the good qualities of his sire. John Reuss, born in Germany, came to the United States at the age of twenty years, settled in Easton, and there kept a shoemaker's shop along the Delaware below the bridge. He died in Easton, aged eighty-eight. He mar- ried Barbara Lutz, born in Germany, who came to the United States at the age of twenty, and was married in Easton, where she died aged seventy years. Both were members of Zion Lutheran Church, John Reuss a Democrat. They were the parents of ten children: Joseph, now of Phillipsburg, New Jersey ; Anna, married John Bowman, and resides in Easton; William, a resident of Easton; Frank, deceased; Clementina, deceased wife of David Strickland; George, of further mention; Catherine, married Edward Kippel, and both are deceased ; Frank, of Connecticut ; John, deceased ; and Edward, deceased.


George Reuss, son of John and Barbara (Lutz) Reuss, was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, March 23, 1870. He attended the public schools until fourteen years of age, his first teacher, Miss Young, his last instructor, Jacob Weaver. His first employer was Rev. John Carey, a local preacher, under whom he learned cigar-making, a trade which he has followed for thirty years. As a boy he also was employed at the old lock factory, then operated by Mr. Shawkey, of New York City. He is a member of the Cigar Makers' Union and a man thoroughly respected as neighbor and citizen. Mr. Reuss is a Democrat in politics, and in 1915 was elected a member of the Board of Alder- men for a term of six years. He has made a good record in that office and has added to the good opinion in which he was held. He is a member of the Evangelical church, and in fraternal relation is affiliated with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, Patriotic Sons of America, and the Loyal Order of Moose. Mr. Reuss married, December 21, 1889, Ella Warner, born in Easton, in 1870, and educated in the public schools, daughter of Nicholas and Margaret (Baylor) Warner. Mr. and Mrs. Reuss are the parents of eight children: I. Florence, married Fred Hartford, and they are the parents of Ada, Marie, Olive and Miriam Hartford. 2. John Nicholas, born in 1892, joined the United States Army, April 27, 1918, trained six weeks at Camp Lee, then went overseas, serving with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, a member of Company D, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment of Infantry. 3. Mabel, residing at home. 4. Dorothy. 5-6. Edith and Ethel, twins, born in 1911. 7. Margaret, died aged three years. 8. George Dewey. died aged three and a half years.


JOHN J. MATTHES-A man who at the age of thirty-five years has risen to high official position in corporations like the Alpha Portland Cement Company of Easton, Pennsylvania, certainly possesses unusual business qual- ity which, with the ripened judgment of maturer years, will place their pos- sessor in still higher positions in the business world. Mr. Matthes began business life as a clerk, but his rise quickly began, and step by step he rose to positions of responsibility and trust until reaching his present position, secretary-treasurer of the Alpha Portland Cement Company of Easton, Penn- sylvania. In that secure place he naturally attracted other corporation offers, and he has added to his official titles honors from several of them. There is in the United States an association of cement manufacturing companies which has been styled, "One of the most efficient trade organizations in the United States." To that association Mr. Matthes has been called as assistant-treas- urer, this giving him national reputation as an acknowledged financier of ability.


John J. Matthes was born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, February 20, 1884,


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and there was educated in the public schools. At the age of eighteen years he entered the employ of the Alpha Portland Cement Company of Easton, Pennsylvania, as a clerk, and since that year, 1902, he has been continuously in the service of that corporation. From general office clerk as a beginner he rose in rank in that department and was appointed auditor, and in that office he proved his ability for a better position, his next opportunity coming in IQII, when he was elected treasurer of the company, and again in March, 1918, further responsibility and honor was awarded him by the dual position of secretary-treasurer. He is also secretary-treasurer of the Alpha Portland Cement Company of Pennsylvania; secretary-treasurer of the Catkskill Ce- ment Company ; treasurer of Annville Stone Company ; and assistant-treas- urer of Portland Cement Association. He is a director of the Phillipsburg Trust Company, director of Building and Loan Association No. 5 of Phillips- burg, and is a member of the National Association of Credit Men. He was very active in war work, serving on several committees connected with the Liberty Loan and war work drives. The details of the purchase of bonds by the various companies of which he is financial head all added to his duties, but these burdens were gladly borne to aid in the one object for which the United States was striving. "Win the War." He is first and finally a man of business, and his high position has been gained by knowing no other great interest than his business, giving close attention to the details of each depart- ment with which he was connected, whether or not it fell within the circle of his prescribed duty. Optimistic and of buoyant spirit, a man of systematic habits, he was always prepared for position "higher up," thus each step found him ready for it. He has not, however, given himself slavishly, but is careful that every side of his nature develops evenly, and he is a fine example of the modest, self-reliant, capable American business, than whom there is nothing finer. His recreations are those of the out-of-doors, golfing, motoring, fishing and athletics all appealing to him. He is a member of the Pomfret and Northampton clubs, is an independent in politics, placing principles above party allegiance.


LeROY LEO WALTER-The family of which LeRoy L. Walter is representative settled in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, prior to the Revolution, and have long been prominent in Palmer township and in the city of Easton. LeRoy L. Walter is a son of Tilghman Walter, and a grandson of Aaron Walter, both residents of Palmer township, but both dying in Easton. Aaron Walter was a farmer of Palmer township, and there his son Tilghman was born about 1858. He died in Easton. He married Helen Herster, of Easton, who there died in March, 1914. They were the parents of the follow- ing children: Carrie, Oscar, Percy, Floyd, John, LeRoy L., of further men- tion, and Noah.


LeRoy L. Walter, son of Tilghman and Helen (Herster) Walter, was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, August 1, 1884, his parents then residing in the First Ward. He began his school life under the instruction of a young teacher, Enos Walter, and until thirteen years of age attended public school. He then became a worker in the Simon Silk Mill, and for about seven years he continued with that corporation, connected with different departments. He then became a conductor on a city electric line, remained in that position two years, then was employed at the Barnet House and other hotels for a period of about seven years. He then left Easton and was a clerk at the Marlborough-Blenheim, Atlantic City, New Jersey, for a season, and at the Ponce de Leon, St. Augustine, Florida. On November 4, 1910, he purchased the Mount Vernon Hotel, Easton, Pennsylvania, and has been its proprietor from that date until the present (1919). He also was proprietor of the Paul Revere Hotel, at Revere, Pennsylvania, until its destruction by fire, March II, 1918, having bought that property the preceding February 4. As soon as possi-


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ble he erected a new substantial stone building two and a half stories in height upon the same site, and now both hotels are operating under his ownership. Mr. Walter is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Roman Catholic church. He married, May 16, 1909, Helen Conroy, of Brooklyn, New York.


HARRY NICHOLAS CROWDER-When a boy, Harry Nicholas Crowder, Sr., left his home in England and came to the United States. In course of time he became a dry-goods merchant of New York City, a business in which he continued until 1915, when he retired, joined his son in Easton, and died there in May, 1918, aged sixty-five years. He married Elizabeth Hettrick, who survives him, a resident of Brooklyn, New York. They were the parents of three children : Charles Frederick, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, vice-president of the Crowder Junior Company in Allentown ; Harry Nicholas, of further mention; Grace Darling, married Victor Hansen, of Long Island, New York.


Harry Nicholas Crowder was born in Brooklyn, New York, July 1I, 1888. He was educated in Brooklyn public schools, finishing with graduation from Brooklyn Commercial High School, class of 1905. As soon as school days were over he entered the employ of the Crandall Packing Company, manu- facturers of steam specialties, and he is still that company's representative for the Crandall engine room specialties in Easton, Pennsylvania. In 1906, Mr. Crowder located in Easton, as representative of various Eastern manu- facturers, and began the upbuilding of the business which in 1912 he incor- porated as the Crowder Junior Company, of which he was the first, and thus far (1919), the only president, Charles Frederick Crowder, his brother, being vice-president of the Allentown branch of the company. The business, elec- tric, steam and mill supplies, has had a solid as well as a rapid growth, its abundant success to be largely attributed to the business genius of its founder and executive manager. Mr. Crowder is a member of the Easton Board of Trade; National Association of Steam Engineers ; Hill Grove Lodge No. 540, Free and Accepted Masons ; Evening Star Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; Pomp Council, Royal and Select Masters; Hugh de Payen Commandery, Knights Templar ; Rajah Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; is a Republican in national politics, but independent in local affairs.




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