History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume III, Part 37

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 37


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JACOB T. JACOBY-When the Jacoby American ancestor first came to America he settled in New Jersey where there are many descendants. A branch later came to Pennsylvania, and for several generations Williams township in Northampton county has been the family seat. There John P. Jacoby, grandfather of Jacob T. Jacoby, chief of Easton's police force, lived and died. He was for many years toll-taker at the old Glendon bridge, and was a well known character of Williams township until his death at the age of eighty-one years.


John P. was succeeded by his son, John Jacoby, who like his father was born, lived and died in Williams township. He died February 12, 1914, aged seventy-three years, a farmer during his active life. He married Martha Stout, who died March 28, 1915, aged sixty years. She was born in Flem- ington, New Jersey, daughter of Plato and Mathilda Stout. Her father was a miller who for many years operated the Flemington mill, but later ran the Upper Walters mill on the Bushkill in Northampton county, Pennsylvania. John and Martha Jacoby were the parents of nine children : Daniel, deceased ; John ; Plato; Jacob Thomas, of whom further ; Philip; Fred; Mattie; Charles ; and one who died in infancy.


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William h. Gosner


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Jacob Thomas Jacoby, son of John and Martha (Stout) Jacoby, was born in Williams township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, August 30, 1876. After completing his studies in the public schools, he learned the machinist's trade, but he early became an expert ball player, and for years was a professional ball player. During his seventeen years as a professional player he played in the Atlantic, New York State, Tri State, Texas State, Connecticut State and Oil Region leagues, and was rated with the best of those leagues in the position he played. In 1913 he retired from professional baseball and secured appointment to the Easton police force as a patrolman. Five years later, on April 6, 1918, he was promoted chief, and in that position is now serving with credit and efficiency. His promotion has been rapid, but based on merit, and the police department reflects the wisdom of his appoint- ment. He is a member of the Mckinley Republican Club, and with his family is affiliated with St. John's Lutheran Church.


Chief Jacoby married, June 20, 1896, Bertha Clay Horn, daughter of Frank P. and Mary Horn, of Easton. They are the parents of a son and a daughter : Frank Pierce Jacoby, a member of the Easton City Guards, now employed with the Ingersoll-Rand Company, of Easton; and Ethel May Jacoby, assistant city clerk of Easton.


WILLIAM HENRY GOSNER-The business monument which William H. Gosner reared to his memory in South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is the Lehigh Steam Laundry, which he founded, erected an appropriate home for, and successfully conducted until his death. He left no sons to perpetuate his name and continue the business, but he did leave a daughter, who suc- ceeded her father as head of the business and still conducts it. . William H. Gosner was a son of David and Ann (Bachman) Gosner, of old Easton families, his father a farmer.


William Henry Gosner was born in Easton, April 19, 1844, and died in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, July 17, 1911. His mother died when her son was but eighteen months of age, and he was taken by a sister of Mr. Gosner's father, Polly Fulmer, of Durham township, who tenderly cared for him through the perils of childhood, gave him educational advantages, and with her he lived until his marriage in 1866. He was the only child of his parents, but his father married a second wife, Mrs. Henry, and they were the parents of two sons: Howard and Edward, and of four daughters : Susan, Catherine, Amanda and Sarah Gosner. After leaving school, William H. Gosner drove a team hauling ore for the Durham Furnace for several years. He then moved to Bethlehem, near the Central railroad roundhouse, and there he built his first house. In Bethlehem he secured employment with the Bethlehem Iron Company as a rail straightener, and continued in the employ of that corporation for eighteen years. He was then possessed of sufficient capital to carry out a long formed plan, and he left the iron company, moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, and there started a laundry in a small way. He remained in the laundry business in Allentown for seven years, amply prov- ing to his own satisfaction that he had made a wise choice of a business. He was, however, not satisfied with his location, and at the end of seven years he sold out and moved to Bethlehem, where he established the Lehigh Steam Laundry in a building rented from Mr. Skinner. Later he purchased a site and erected thereon the present building, and equipped it with every modern machine or aid to perfect laundering on a large scale. He then succeeded beyond his hopes, and at the time of his death between fifty and sixty hands, two motor trucks and five teams were needed to handle the business.


Mr. Gosner married, April 14, 1866, Rebecca A. Wilson, who survives him, a resident of Bethlehem. Mrs. Gosner is a daughter of David Wilson, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, her father a farmer and hotel-keeper, pro- prietor of the Revere Hotel three miles from Ferndale. Mr. and Mrs. Gosner were the parents of two children, one who died in infancy, and a daughter


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Anna M., who married Fred W. Bohler, and upon the death of her father succeeded him as managing head of the Lehigh Steam Laundry. Mrs. Bohler resides with her widowed mother, Mrs. Gosner. She inherits her father's strong business talent and is a worthy successor. Mrs. Bohler succeeded to the business upon the death of her father in 1919, and her son was admitted to the business of the estate, and now takes an active part in the business. His name is Harry E. R. Bohler, and his sketch follows.


HARRY EDWARD RONALD BOHLER-Well known as the energetic proprietor of the Lehigh Steam Laundry, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Mr. Bohler has won many friends by his upright life and devotion to the business which he has built up from a small beginning. He is a son of Fred W. Bohler, born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, who since the year 1897 has been residing in the Philippines, a construction contractor. Fred W. Bohler married Anna M. Gosner, and their only child, Harry E. R. Bohler, is one of the men of Bethlehem who have fairly won their way to public regard.


Harry E. R. Bohler was born in South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, August 3, 1891, and there attended the public schools and Moravian Preparatory School. Later he was a student at Westchester Normal School, then entered Bethlehem Preparatory School, finishing his studies there. In 1910 he entered the employ of William H. Gosner, proprietor of a laundry in Bethle- hem, with whom he remained until death claimed Mr. Gosner, in 1911. Mr. Bohler then became manager of the laundry, and so closely has he devoted himself to its upbuilding that the business transacted weekly has doubled in volume. The Lehigh Steam Laundry is located on New street, Bethlehem, South Side, and under its present management is a well equipped, modern establishment. Mr. Bohler has always been deeply interested in local mili- tary matters. In 1910 he joined the Sons of Veterans' Reserves, and on November 12, 1917, enlisted at Fort Slocum, New York; from the Officers' Training School at Yaphank, Long Island, he graduated April 16, 1918, and was appointed second lieutenant of infantry, United States Army ; June I, 1918, transferred to Camp Hancock, Georgia, as instructor in Officers' Train- ing School, machine gun division, and discharged December 13, 1918. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.


Mr. Bohler married, in Bethlehem, January 1, 1914, Flora Elizabeth Elliott, born in Bethlehem, March 31, 1892, daughter of James L. Elliott, a retired business man and ex-councilman of Bethlehem, South Side, and his wife, Agnes (Herman) Elliott, born in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.


HOWARD D. BEYSHER-Since meeting with the accident which de- prived him of a limb, Mr. Beysher has engaged in various business enter- prises both as an employee and proprietor, his present activity, Beysher's Taxi Service, located at No. 405 Broadway, South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, being a most prosperous and profitable one. He is a son of Cornelius Beysher, who died in September, 1916, aged sixty-six years, a pioneer of South Beth- lehem, who at the time of his death had been an invalid for ten years, after a life of activity as a contractor. He was a friend of John Fritz, of the Bethlehem Steel Company, a Democrat in politics, member of the School Board for eight years. Cornelius Beysher married Lucinda Ritter, daughter of Nathan Ritter, of Allentown. They were the parents of the following children : John W., now in the employ of the Bethlehem Steel Works, mar- ried Mamie Wagner, of Salisbury, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of a daughter, Clair; Helen L., married John Tenney; Howard D., of further mention.


Howard D. Beysher was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, February 21, 1881, and there educated in the public schools. His first position was as clerk in the Lerch & Rice department store, there remaining eighteen months when, in jumping from a moving train, June 18, 1899, he was so seriously


Harry .R. Bohler.


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BIOGRAPHICAL


injured that his left leg had to be amputated. After recovering from this serious accident he entered the clerical employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, retaining that position four years, resigning to become proprietor of the Bellevue Hotel in South Bethlehem, which he had bought. After retiring from the mangement of the Bellevue, he spent three years in St. Louis, Missouri, as cashier in a manufacturing plant, then returned to Bethlehem. He started there the Wyandotte Pressing Club, conducting that enterprise four years before instituting Beysher's Taxi Service with the motto "Any- time to Anywhere." He has built up the service to a high level of efficiency, and has made it an institution of South Bethlehem with which this borough would very reluctantly part. He is a man of progressive, energetic nature, and whatever he does is well and promptly done. He is a member of Friend- ship Fraternal Order and the Loyal Order of Moose, is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Lutheran church.


Mr. Beysher married, June 21, 1905, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lotta Bougher, daughter of Martin W. and Alice (Zearfaus) Bougher, both living, her father a retired ship chandler of Philadelphia. He has long been active in the Republican party, was city councilman two terms, represented his district in the State Legislature. He is now practically retired from public life, but has an office in the city department of weights and measures, and serves his ward as committeeman.


JOHN L. SMITH-John L. Smith, proprietor of Smith's Café, Centre square, Easton, succeeded to the ownership of that business in 1913, and has developed a well regulated establishment, catering to the general public through both bar and dining room. The dining room is large and well patron- ized, the management giving especially good service. Mr. Smith was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and was there educated. Until reaching his majority he was engaged in farming, then opened a hotel in Schuylkill county, where he continued until coming to Easton, in 1900. He is a Democrat in politics, belongs to the Jacksonian Club, and to the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks, and has a host of friends.


Mr. Smith married Eva C. Kuebler, daughter of Joseph Kuebler, of Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of Christ Lutheran Church.


HENRY SHORT-John Short, of England, came to the United States in 1873 with his wife and seven children, finding a home in East Bangor, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in slate quarry- ing all the remainder of his active years. He and his family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Children, all of whom came with their parents to this country and lived in East Bangor: Sarah, married George H. Mutton; Mary A., married Samuel Baker; George, deceased; Alfred, de- ceased ; Eliza ; Hannah T., married George A. Manley ; and Henry, of further mention.


Henry Short, son of John Short, was born in England in 1867, and in 1873 was brought to East Bangor, Pennsylvania, by his parents. He attended public school until reaching a suitable age, then began working in the slate quarries with his father. He finally became assistant superintendent, a posi- tion he yet holds with the East Bangor Consolidated Slate Company, a cor- poration of which he is a director. He has won his way to a leading position among the business men of his city, and is highly regarded as citizen and business man. He is a director of the First National Bank of Bangor ; director of the East Bangor Manufacturing Company; director of the Slate Belt Building & Loan Association : trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church of East Bangor ; member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, No. 183, in which he has passed all the chairs, and is past grand of Bangor Lodge No. 661, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Republican in politics, has served N. H. BIOG .- 34


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on the School Board for eighteen years, three years in the Common Council, and in many minor offices.


Mr. Short married Minnie Wilson, daughter of William and Susan (Bray) Wilson, and they are the parents of six children: Agnes M., born July 31, 1897, a graduate of the East Bangor High School, class of 1914, of the East Stroudsburg State Normal School, and now a teacher in the East Bangor public school; Susan A., born March 9, 1900, a graduate of the East Bangor High School, class of 1916, and Churchman's Business College, now a stenog- rapher in the employ of the East Bangor Consolidated Slate Company ; Celia W., born May 26, 1902, a graduate of the high school, class of 1919; Natalie J., born June 5, 1910; John M., born November 23, 1912; Alvis M., born Septem- ber 6, 1915. Mrs. Minnie (Wilson) Short died December 22, 1918.


WILLIAM HENRY MILCHSACK-One of the most beautiful resi- dences in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is occupied by William Henry Milchsack, a retired jewelry merchant. His home stands upon a rising knoll of ground, from which well kept lawns roll away in all directions. Hundreds of rare trees and shrubberies adorn the extensive grounds, and in the blooming season it is the Mecca of lovers of the beautiful in nature.


Mr. Milchsack is very proud of his Revolutionary ancestry, and justly so, for he springs from fine stock on both the paternal and maternal sides of his family. His great-grandfather, George Milchsack, served in the Ameri- can army of the Revolution during the troubled days of our War for Inde- pendence, in the Sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Line. His great-great-grand- father was Heinrich Beitel, a famous Moravian missionary who for many years labored among the Arawack Indians of Berbice, at that time in Dutch Guiana, South America.


The father of Mr. Milchsack was Henry Thomas Milchsack, of Bethle- hem, a merchant tailor and later proprietor of hotels at Lake Poponoming, Monroe county, Nazareth, and the Bethlehems. His mother was Ellen Agusta Beitel, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Their son, William Henry, was born in Bethlehem, March 28, 1860. At the age of six he was sent to the Moravian Parochial School in his home town, continuing his studies there for eight years. Then he became a student at Nazareth Hall Military Acad- emy, at Nazareth, Pennsylvania, remaining there for two years, when he graduated in 1876. He is a member of the Nazareth Moravian Congregation. Mr. Milchsack was married on October 11, 1900, to Mrs. Mary A. Sproule Rankins, in Brooklyn, New York, a daughter of James and Mary Jane DeCue Sproule, of Brooklyn Heights, New York. She died July 8, 1907. On Octo- ber 3, 1912, at Buffalo, New York, he was married to Mrs. Isabelle Murray Reid, of Chicago, daughter of Hugh and Mary Murray, of Buffalo, New York.


While taking no active part in politics, Mr. Milchsack is a Republican. He is greatly interested in club and historical affairs, being a member of the Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the American Revolution ; District of Columbia Society, Sons of the American Revolution ; the Moravian Historical Society, the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, and Easton Motor Association. He is vice-president of the Nazareth Young Men's Chris- tian Association, and secretary and trustee of Nazareth Hall Military Acad- emy of Nazareth, Pennsylvania.


HARRY W. REICHARD-As general road foreman of engineers with the Lehigh Valley railroad, Mr. Reichard is filling a position for which his years of service in the operating department of the Lehigh fully qualifies him. He is a son of Robert T. Reichard, of No. 329 Bushkill street, who is a trainman in the Lehigh Valley railroad service, and a grandson of Thomas and Augusta Reichard, who were longtime residents of Quakertown, Penn- sylvania. Robert T. Reichard was born in Quakertown, and there spent his


Yours Sincerely fm H. Milchsack.


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youth. He married Susan Bleam, of the same town, and they are the parents of a son, Harry W. Reichard, of further mention, and a daughter, Elizabeth, wife of Oscar Meeker, of Easton, their only child a son, Robert Meeker.


Harry W. Reichard was born in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1882, but soon after his birth his parents moved to Bethlehem, Pennsyl- vania, and there he attended the public schools. Later Easton became the family home, and there the lad completed his studies at the age of seventeen years. From boyhood he had been in love with railroad life, and when the time came to make a choice of business for himself, he sought it with the Lehigh Valley railroad. His first position was with the automatic signal department of that road, and there he spent three and a half years. From that position he was advanced to the position of locomotive fireman of the division between Jersey City and Sayre, Pennsylvania. At the end of four years in that capacity, he successfully passed a required examination and was advanced to the position of locomotive engineer and assigned to a run between Jersey City and Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. For several years he rode upon the right side of the cab, and in the intervals acted as assistant road foreman of engines. On August 4, 1918, his faithfulness to duty, his ability and his loyalty to the company, brought him further promotion, and he was appointed to his present important post, general road foreman of engines. Mr. Reichard is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi- neers; Firemen's Loyal Protective Association; Vandeveer Lodge, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows; and is a Republican in politics, casting his first presidential vote for William Mckinley.


Mr. Reichard married, in Easton, September 14, 1910, Helen R. Hall, of Allentown, daughter of Robert J. and Alice Mary (Shrader) Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Reichard are the parents of three children: Donald Harrison Hall, Kenneth Thomas and Jeanette Shrader. Mrs. Reichard is a member of St. John's Lutheran Church of Nazareth, Pennsylvania.


ROBERT BENJAMIN LEWIS-Robert Benjamin Lewis, superintend- ent and general manager of the Phoenix Slate Company, Windgap, Penn- sylvania, was born January 10, 1886, at Fair Haven, Vermont, son of Benja- min and Catherine J. (Owens) Lewis. Benjamin Lewis was born in Bethesda, North Wales, on Christmas of 1850. His trade was the slate business, but for eleven years he was a partner in a mercantile store in Vermont, and since that time he has been retired. For a number of years he was treasurer and is now a trustee of the Welsh Congregational Church. He is a member of the Blue Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, Vermont, and belongs to the local Order of Foresters. Catherine J. Lewis, mother of Robert Benjamin Lewis, was born in Fair Haven, and is still in active life there. Benjamin and Catherine Lewis were the parents of three children: I. Harry B., born May 17, 1888, a salesman in Vermont; married Annie Francis of the same place. 2. Herbert Owen, born July 8, 1889; a bookkeeper in the plant of his brother, Robert Benjamin; married Gwendolan Thomas, of Fair Haven, and had two children : Edwin Herbert, born June 26, 1914, and Edith Elizabeth, born in December, 1915. 3. Robert Benjamin, of whom further.


Robert Benjamin Lewis spent the early years of his life in his native Fair Haven, and was educated in the public schools there. For a short time he attended the high school, until it became necessary for him to leave and enter business. Later he completed his education at the Rutland Business College, in Rutland, Vermont, and year by year as he went along he strove to educate himself further. He began his business career as bookkeeper for Durick, Keenan & Company, slate manufacturers. In 1909 he was offered and accepted a similar position with his present concern, being promoted to his present important position in 1914. His father and grandfather were in the same business, so Robert B. Lewis was cradled in the trade of the slate quarry. In business he was very aggressive and active, as his success has


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shown, and socially he is worthily popular. In politics he is a Republican, but has never aspired to office. He is a member of the Congregational church.


At Utica, New York, July 19, 1911, Robert Benjamin Lewis married Grace Alice Roberts, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Jones) Roberts, of Utica, New York. She is a graduate of Utica Academy and the Teachers' Training School, and for several years was herself a teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Lewis are the parents of two children: Miriam Elizabeth, born July 26, 1914; and Esther Catherine, born September 28, 1916.


DAVID BURKE-In the year 1891, Mr. Burke came to Bangor, Penn- sylvania, a young man of twenty-one years. Twenty-seven years have since intervened, and he has, during that period, won the regard and respect of his fellow men. When in 1914 a Democratic postmaster was to be appointed by President Wilson, Mr. Burke was strongly endorsed for the position, and on May 1, 1914, was duly commissioned and assumed the duties of the office, which he yet holds. He is the youngest son of Patrick Burke, born in Ire- land, who came to the United States in 1860, and settled in Fair Haven, Vermont, where he died December 12, 1873. He married Annie Fitzpatrick, also born in Ireland, who came to the United States in 1856. They were the parents of five children: Catherine, married John Ryan, of Vermont; Mary, who died in 1906; Nellie, who married John Foley, of Fair Haven, Vermont; Teresa, married Michael Bird, of Fair Haven; David, of further mention.


David Burke was born in Fair Haven, Vermont, November 19, 1870, and there spent his youth, acquiring his education in the local schools. He was variously employed during his minor years, but in 1891 came to Bangor, in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, where he at once engaged in the struc- tural slate business. He continued in that business very successfully, but since May I, 1914, has been postmaster of Bangor. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Bangor, and in his political faith is a Democrat.


Mr. Burke married, in 1907, Carrie Heller, daughter of Aaron and Emma (Gruver) Heller.


HENRY CLAY HOOVER-Henry C. Hoover, manager of the F. W. Woolworth store in Easton, Pennsylvania, was born in Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania, September 26, 1874, son of Henry C. and Violet (Trewitz) Hoover. His father, Henry C. Hoover, was long engaged in coach building, retiring in 1898, and is now residing with his son, Henry C. (2), in Easton. His wife, Violet, died in January, 1902, in Easton. Both were members of the Protes- tant Episcopal church and they were the parents of six children: John, deceased; William, a resident of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Henry C., of fur- ther mention; Alfred, manager of the Woolworth Five and Ten Cent Store in Camden, New Jersey. Two other children died in infancy.


Henry C. Hoover spent his school years in the Lancaster public school until reaching the age of twelve, when he entered the employ of the Wool- worth Five and Ten Cent Store in Lancaster, and from that year, 1886, he has been continuously in the employ of that famed organization, the F. W. Woolworth Company. Seven years later, at the age of nineteen, he was made manager of the Lancaster store, and on February 21, 1899, he located in Easton as manager of the Woolworth store in that city. When he first entered the Easton store he found it occupying a room 26 by 40 feet, the present room is 52 by 110 feet, and so firmly and well has he built up the business that the Easton store is one of the finest in the immense chain of Woolworth stores. His life service to the company has left him an employee, but he is one of the heavy stockholders of the company, and he gives execu- tive attention to company affairs.




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