History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume III, Part 29

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 29


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


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55


Progressive and public-spirited, Mr. Speck has kept in close touch with all modern improvement, and is one of the many men who are sought for in counsel. He was one of the leading spirits in the organization of the Master Building Association, of the Lehigh Valley; served for nine years on the Bethlehem School Board, six years of which he was secretary ; is a director of the Bethlehem Trust Company, which he aided in organizing ; belongs to the Lincoln Republican Association; is a member of the Bethlehem and Ro- tary clubs, and in the Masonic order holds all degrees of the Bethlehem bodies, Knights Templar and Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He joined heart- ily with the supporters of the "hill to hill" bridge and the borough consolida- tion projects, and in the war drive he was an ardently enthusiastic worker. He is devoted to his business, but enjoys out-of-door pleasures, motoring and athletics, but in his own words his hobbies are "My work and my family." He has won honorable position in the community in which his life has been spent, and enjoys the esteem of all who know him. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and an independent in politics.


Mr. Speck married, August 30, 1893, Ida L., daughter of John and Sarah (Gable) Grant, of Salfordville, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of seven children: Blanche G .; Willard J., died aged eighteen months ; William Grant ; George Dewey, born in 1898, and named in honor of the hero of Manila bay ; Beatrice L., Frances E. and Archibald F. The elder sons are all associated with their father's business.


EDGAR WALLACE AND WILLIAM WARREN SPECK-It is dif- ficult to separate the Speck brothers in the minds of Bethlehemites, for they have never been separated, being twins at birth, twins in their trade learning, and for many years twins or partners in their large and important building operations, for like their honored father they are contactors and builders of high repute.


Edgar Wallace and William Warren Speck, twin sons of Jacob and Lydia Ann (Yost) Speck, were born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1871. They were educated in the public schools, then became apprentices under J. Stewart Allam, a contractor and builder of South Bethlehem, with whom they remained until his death. They then began contracting and build- ing under the firm name Speck Brothers, and have developed a large building


477


BIOGRAPHICAL


business along the modern lines of real estate promotion. While their private contracts for dwellings, business houses, factory and municipal buildings are extensive, they are perhaps better known as the enterprising, progressive promoters of that addition to the city of Bethlehem known as the old fair grounds. That beautiful site and property they bought for fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), laid it out in streets and avenues, and thereon built several hundred residences which they sold on the easy payment plan, if buyer so desired. Their present operation is the development of the tract placed upon the market by the Melrose Land Company. Among the expensive residences which the Speck Brothers have built is that recently completed for M. J. Shimer, while the one hundred thousand dollar power plant for the Blue Ridge Traction Company, Danielsville, Pennsylvania, is another of their weightier contracts, others being twenty-two houses for the Bethlehem Steel Company, and the five-story addition to the E. P. Wilbur Trust Company building. They are owners of much valuable business, residential and farm property.


Edgar Wallace Speck, in addition to his business interest aforemen- tioned, is a member of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, the Bethlehem Real Estate Board, and the School Board; director of the Lehigh Valley National Bank, the Bethlehem Securities Company, the Melrose Land Com- pany, the Bethlehem Cemetery Association, and president of the United Ceme- tery Association. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Salem Lutheran Church. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and a past officer of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married Emma Bender, daughter of Valentine and Eliza- beth Bender, and they are the parents of two children : Margaret and Robert.


William Warren Speck also holds membership in the Bethlehem Cham- ber of Commerce, the Bethlehem Real Estate Board, the Bethlehem Cemetery Association, of which he is a director, and the Melrose Land Company, of which he is also a director. He has been a liberal supporter of St. Luke's Hospital, and of the Orphans' Home at Germantown, Philadelphia, con- nected with the Salem Lutheran Church, of which he is a member, serving in the choir since sixteen years of age, and for over twenty years as teacher of a class of boys in the Sunday school. He was active in all war activities, a liberal contributor to the War Chest and an investor in war loans. He is a Democrat in politics. He holds membership in the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and the Knights of Malta. He married S. Olivia Bender, daughter of Valentine and Elizabeth Bender, a sister of Mrs. Edgar Wallace Speck.


After the perusal of the foregoing, it will be plain why in a history of their native county these twin native sons should not be separated, but as their lives have been so closely interwoven by birth, business and marriage. so for all time should the published record of one be the record of the other They are men of worth both in substance and in character, worthy sons of a worthy sire.


RICHARD N. M. SNYDER-While the family has many branches in every part of Pennsylvania, the Northampton county line, of which Richard N. M. Snyder, of Easton, is representative, was founded by Nicholas Snyder. who on December 9, 1774, bought of Abraham Frantz one hundred and six- teen acres of farm land lying in Lehigh township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. There Nicholas Snyder lived and died, and family tradition says that he is buried in St. Peter's churchyard at Cherryville.


Richard N. M. Snyder's grandfather was Andrew Snyder, who served in the State Legislature, and was always active in public affairs.


Richard N. M. Snyder's father was Herbert Snyder, who was born in Bethel township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in 1861, son of a far-


478


NORTHAMPTON COUNTY


mer. Herbert Snyder was for twenty-five years a furniture dealer, one of Eastons' enterprising merchants and leading citizens, and was always active in public affairs. He married Mary Jane Miller, daughter of Richard N. Miller, and they were the parents of three children, Richard N. M., the eldest.


Richard N. M. Snyder was born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, March 10. 1886, but the same year his parents moved to Easton, Pennsylvania, which city has ever since been his home. He completed public school courses of study wtih graduation from Easton High School, class of 1905, then entered Lafayette College. During these years he had developed musical talent of a high order and had studied under capable instructors. Deciding that his talent offered him best means of being of service to his fellow men; he has made music his profession and his life work. He organized Snyder's Orches- tra during his college days, and as its leader has ever continued its office to furnish ball and banquet music, in addition to their regular engagement at the Orpheum Theatre. The orchestra is a recognized part of Easton's musi-


cal equipment, is well known and liberally patronized. Mr. Snyder is a mem- ber of Easton's Board of Trade and Rotary Club, and may always be relied upon to do his full share in all public movements. As a leader of band or orchestra he has no superiors in the city and personally he ranks high both as musician and citizen. He has attained the thirty-second degree in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, is a member of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, and Phi Delta Theta, and his political bias is Democratic.


Mr. Snyder married, May 4, 1917, Evelyn J. Case, daughter of Frank and Jennie (Paul) Case, of Easton. Mrs. Snyder is a graduate of Easton High School, class of 1907.


ARTHUR B. KLEINHANS-For half a century the Kleinhans' gardens and greenhouses located on the South Side have been patronized by Easto- nians. The father, Hiram Kleinhans, founded and developed general truck and floral gardens, and when he passed away full of years and honors, the son, Arthur B. Kleinhans, succeeded to the management, and specialized in cut flowers. Arthur B. is a grandson of Jacob and Susan (Phiffer) Klein- hans, both of whom were born in William township, Northampton county. Both branches of the family early settled in the county, great-grandfather Fhiffer entering six hundred acres of government land. Jacob Kleinhans was a tailor by trade, but was also a farmer and land owner of Williams township. He was a strong Democrat, and in religious faith a Lutheran.


Hiram Kleinhans was born at the farm in Williams township, October 30, 1836, died at his home in South Easton in 1913, having filled well his station in life. He was educated in the district schools and spent his early life at the home farm. Starting out a farmer, he gradually drifted into market gardening and the growing of flowers. He was the owner of a sixty-acre farm in Williams township, but he gave his personal attention to the thirty acres in Seitzville that comprised his floral garden and market farm, which property, the Kleinhans' greenhouses, later became a part of the borough of South Easton and finally with South Easton was annexed to the city of Easton. For several months of the Civil War he served in the Union Army, but, becoming disabled, he was honorably discharged. He then returned home and started gardens for raising vegetables and flowers, and that busi- ness grew into one of large proportions in both departments. In time, green- houses were added, and Kleinhans' greenhouses became a well established institution. Mr. Kleinhans was one of Easton's pioneer florists, and he expanded with his business and became one of the really prominent men of his district. He made his home on the South Side and was one of the potent factors in securing the legislation, adding Seitzville to the borough of South Easton and later in having South Easton annexed to the city of Easton. He


1F


479


BIOGRAPHICAL


served Northampton county two terms as commissioner and held many of the local offices under township rule. When his home became a part of South Easton, he served as member of the Borough Council and as burgess, the highest borough office. He was a wise leader, clear-headed and public- spirited, a man well known and highly esteemed. He worshipped in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, of which he was for a long time an active and official member, and in political faith was a Democrat. Hiram Kleinhans mar- ried Isabella Fossbiender, daughter of William Fossbiender, of Lower Mount Bethel township, who died in 1915, aged seventy-four years. They were the parents of twelve children : William H., a resident of Easton; Emma F., married Frank . Heinline, of Easton; Quintus, deceased; Hiram, deceased ; Thomas O., a resident of Easton; Samuel H., deceased, formerly connected with the Newport News (Virginia) Shipbuilding Company; Howard P., a lumber dealer, of Mayfield, Virginia; Frank B., deceased, formerly con- nected with the Carnegie Steel Works of Pittsburgh, the author of several works on steel and steel construction which were considered as authority, and his death in the prime of youthful manhood, ended a life of brilliant prom- ise; Susan, deceased; Arthur B., who is of further mention; James P., now with the Ingersoll Manufacturing Company; Jeanette Isabelle, widow of Harry Post, of Easton.


Arthur B. Kleinhans, tenth of the children of Hiram and Isabella (Foss- biender) Kleinhans, was born at the South Easton home of his parents, Janu- ary 6, 1878. He was educated in the public schools, and after completing his studies, became associated with his father, who was then a successful market gardener and florist. Arthur B. adopted the business as his own, and since 1904 has been located in South Easton in business for himself, being the present owner and proprietor of the Kleinhans greenhouses, and his father's successor. He now has 35,000 square feet under glass, devoted to the culture of popular flowers which are disposed of at retail, he making a spe- cialty of cut flowers. He has other business interests, but his great love is for his greenhouse business, a love of the flowers he grows going hand in hand with the business side of a florist's life.


Mr. Kleinhans is independent in his political action and is a member of both the Jacksonian and Mckinley clubs. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; the Loyal Order of Moose; the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. His club is the Kiwanis. The Kleinhans greenhouses are located at Kleinhans and Folk streets in South Easton, the store for the sale of cut flowers at No. 15 North Third street, Easton.


ANDREW A. NEAVE-With a natural inclination for all things me- chanical, and with a genius for invention, it needed but the practical training to insure a career of success for Andrew A. Neave, now vice-president and manager of the Treadwell Engineering Company of Easton, Pennsylvania. With training came advancement and the acquisition of solid business prin- ciples which placed him among the leading young manufacturers of the country. He is a son of John W. and Ellen (Phinn) Neave, of Dundee, Scotland ; the father, an expert foundryman, came to the United States.in 1868, was a foundry superintendent in Wilmington, Delaware, and was holding that position at the time of his death, 1916. John W. Neave married Ellen Phinn, and they were the parents of seven children: John P., Helen, Elisabeth, William W., Andrew A., of whom further; Charles J. and Ethel L.


Andrew A. Neave was born in New Castle, Delaware, September 1, 1878, and there obtained a good public school education, including the courses of the Manual Training School. He completed his school training at Wilming- ton Technical Institute, taking the night courses during a period of three years, becoming skilled in mechanical engineering. He then spent four years


480


NORTHAMPTON COUNTY


in practical shopwork as a machinist in Wilmington manufacturing plants, after which he located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and there was engaged as a mechanical draughtsman at the Nesta Machine Company's plant, there remaining four years. From Pittsburgh he went to Canton, Ohio, having been appointed master mechanic of the United Steel Company of that place. He held the position of master mechanic one year, then returned to the Nesta Machine Company, and for two years was sales engineer, followed by four years as chief engineer of the rolling mill department of the same cor- poration. Those seven years with the Nesta Machine Company brought him to the year 1913, and to the city of Easton, he coming to that city as chief engineer of the Treadwell Engineering Company. In 1915 he was made act- ing manager of the plant, and in 1916 was elected a member of the board of directors, vice-president of the company, and manager of the works. Under Mr. Neave's management this highly efficient manufacturing plant has been of great value to the United States Government in its shipbuilding activities, the Treadwell plant having produced a vast amount of vitally essential material. The record of the plant in each of the four Liberty Loan drives has been 100 per cent.


While Mr. Neave stands high among the industrial leaders and is a skilled mechanic, he is active in social and civic affairs, taking a deep interest in community organizations and societies. He is a member of the Easton Board of Trade, the Rotary Club, the Engineers' Society of Pennsylvania, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, is affiliated with the Masonic order and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; his clubs, the Pom- fret, Bethlehem and Northampton County Country. In politics he is an Inde- pendent. He enjoys the sports of the out-of-doors, is fond of boating, is an ardent fisherman and an enthusiastic motorist.


Mr. Neave married, December 25, 1905, Rosamond Chamberlain, daugh- ter of Azro and Alvira (Stone) Chamberlain, of South Newbury, Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Neave are the parents of four daughters: Helen Elizabeth, Marion C., Jeanette L. and Edith.


NOAH DIETRICH-The Dietrichs of Pennsylvania spring from Wil- helm Emanuel Dietrich, born in Germany in 1680. He had five sons, Casper, Elias, Jacob, Johann and Philip, four of these coming to Pennsylvania and becoming heads of families. Casper, the eldest son, had three sons and a daughter, all of whom came to this country. Lancaster and Berks counties were the original localities in which the Dietrichs settled, and from there they branched out, making for themselves homes in surrounding counties, notably Northampton and Lehigh. The branch to which Noah Dietrich, of Easton, belongs, settled in Forks township, Pennsylvania, his father, Benja- min Dietrich, a farmer of that township. Benjamin Dietrich married Anna Maria Lerch, and they were the parents of several sons and daughters.


Noah Dietrich was born at the home farm in Forks township, Northamp- ton county, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1846. He grew up at the farm, and attended the district school. He then engaged in brick-making for ten years, 1868-78, becoming United States gauger in 1878, a position he held in the internal revenue service for twenty-four years. He is now, and has been for several years, sealer of weights and measures for Northampton county. During the Civil War he served in the One Hundred and Fifty-third Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and in the One Hundred and Ninety- sixth Regiment (Corn Exchange of Philadelphia). A Republican in politics, Mr. Dietrich served four years in Easton Select Council, and two years in Common Council. He is commander of Lafayette Post No. 217, Grand Army of the Republic, and served one term as commander of the Pennsylvania department of the Grand Army. He is a veteran member of the old Humane Engine Company of Easton's volunteer fire department, is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Loyal Order of Moose, his church membership, St. Peter's Lutheran, College Hill, Easton.


-


Reb. John Darato


481


BIOGRAPHICAL


Mr. Dietrich married, at Wilmington, Delaware, in 1868, Emily P. Cham- berlain, now deceased, daughter of David and Catherine Chamberlain. Mr. and Mrs. Dietrich are the parents of six children: Kate C., Grace C., Edward N., Herbert D., Bessie and Russell D. Dietrich.


VERY REV. JOHN DARAIO, D.D .- At the solemn and impressive dedicatory services, conducted by Bishop McCort, of Philadelphia, consecrat- ing the new and beautiful Italian Catholic Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Easton, the bishop, in an address after the sermon, eulogized the work done by Father Daraio, the pastor of the church. He highly extolled the work performed by the pastor during the eighteen months in the parish, and expressed his complete surprise that he had been able to accomplish so much in so short a time, and bade the congregation not to forget that their pastor had done so much for them and for the cause of religion. To this eulogy of the ecclesiastic no exceptions can be taken, but the laymen viewing Father Daraio through secular eyes would give him equal credit for the work he has done in Easton, in educating the people in their duties as Americans and arousing their patriotism, and a sight long to be remembered in the city was a procession of two hundred members of the parish of St. Anthony of Padua, with Father Daraio at their head, marching to the polling places, September 12, 1918, to register and aid others in registering for selective service in obedience to the proclamation of President Wilson. The previous Sunday, Father Daraio preached forceful sermons at each Mass, impressing upon his congregation the importance of registering, and promising to meet them and to be at their disposal during the hours the polls were open. The large number who responded to the call was most gratifying to the authori- ties and to the good Father, whose heart is bound up in the temporal as well as the spiritual welfare of the people.


Father Daraio came from a militant family; his grandfather, John Daraio, a soldier in the Italian patriotic army with Garabaldi, and a great- uncle was with Napoleon in Russia, serving on that great commander's staff, with the rank of general. Others of the family, past and present, uphold the family name in war, while others have distinguished themselves in the gentler art of peace. In his own right, however, Father Daraio stands without need of family influence, being a man of highest culture, graceful powers of ora- tory, a learned theologian and an untiring worker. Returning to the patriotic work in Easton, it must be noticed that two hundred and sixty men have gone into the service of the United States and Italy from the parish of St. Anthony of Padua, much the largest representation sent by any Northamp- ton county church. This must be attributed to the untiring patriotic efforts of the good Father in impressing the hundreds of Italians who are serving in the United States and Italian armies from Easton.


Dr. John Daraio was born in Tricarico, Italy, April 13, 1878, and there finished the course of study prescribed for the seminary. He then entered the University of Naples, whence he was graduated LL.D., and shortly afterward was ordained a priest. After the ordination in Naples, he went to Rome. He then went to Tricarico, where, by his bishop, he was appointed a professor in the seminary there, the same at which he had once been a student. For twelve years he continued as a professor in the seminary at Tricarico, teach- ing classes in Italian, Latin, history, geography and natural science. During thạt period he also exercised the functions of his priestly office and won high reputation as a pulpit orator and theologian. In Italy he preached in Rome. Naples, Genoa, Salerno, Pompeii, Taranto, Potenza, Reggio, Calabria and Siracusa, impressing his audiences deeply with his pleasing personality and scholarly attainments.


Dr. Daraio came to the parish of St. Anthony of Padua in October, 1914, having previously filled pulpits in New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and N. H. BIOG .- 31


482


NORTHAMPTON COUNTY


Washington, impressing his audiences with the same feeling as he had pre- viously in his own land. St. Anthony's was formerly a mission, dating from 1909, in charge of Rev. A. Landolfi, who began the church structure, the cornerstone having been laid February 20, 1914. After his arrival. Father Daraio completed the church, which, with the rectory, involved an outlay of $23,000. The church was dedicated on Sunday, June 18, 1916, Bishop McCort also confirming a class of two hundred and thirty the same day. Father Daraio, at ten o'clock Mass, preached a sermon in Italian. He outlined to his congregation the work that had been performed by their help, and after congratulating them upon their loyalty, urged the importance of their remain- ing faithful, assuring them that by so doing even greater things were possi- ble for the future. During the week following the dedication of the church, Father Daraio received a vast number of letters exclusively congratulations and good wishes for the future; among these was one from the Rt. Rev. Bishop Bonzano, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, who had hoped to attend the dedicatory services.


Dr. Daraio is the founder of eight societies, six of them in his present parish, among them included: Confraternity of St. Anthony, Society for the Working Class, Circle of St. Louis, St. John, Holy Cross, Children of Mary and others. Outside his church, study and parochial work, Father Daraio is best known for his notable literary work, religious and scholastic. He is the author of: "History of Ancient Rome"; "Greece and the People of the Orient"; "Brief Course of Philosophy"; "The Significance of all His- torical and Geographical Names of the Old and New Testament"; "St. An- thony, The Saint of the World"; "Life of St. Vitale and Bishop of Turri"; "Subsidiary Science of History"; "Chronology, Geography, Genealogy"; and nearly as many others, all of which have been published.


ASHER W. BRINKER-Ulrich Brinker, the founder of this family in Pennsylvania, was born in Baden, Germany, and came to Pennsylvania with his wife, Apollonia (Beyer) Brinker. They were the parents of five sons, John George, Adam, John, John Jacob and Andrew, from whom come the various Brinker families of Northampton county, Pennsylvania.


Asher W. Brinker, a descendant, was born September 16, 1871, in Moorestown, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, fourteen miles northwest of Easton. He attended the public school until thirteen years of age, then became a wage earner. At the age of fifteen he was working for the farmers of the neighborhood, but later he became a factory worker, first in a rope walk, later in a shoe manufacturing plant, then for one year was employed at the Ingersoll plant in Easton. He then became proprietor of the Forest House, so continuing for nine years, selling out, then purchasing the. Palmer House on Washington street, Easton, where he died July 1, 1915. He was a member of the Lutheran church of Farmersville, a Democrat in politics, member of the Jacksonian Club, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Palmer Fire Company.




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