History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume III, Part 43

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 43


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York City, where he attended night school, and for some years was a boot- black and newsboy. Young as he was, he had obtained a good knowledge of the carpenter's trade in Austria, but he was too young to work here under the law, so he earned his way at other occupations not under the ban. Upon arriving at suitable age, he secured employment as a journeyman carpenter, and upon reaching the age of twenty-one he began contracting buildings in New York City, continuing until May 16, 1916, when his residence in Beth- lehem, Pennsylvania, began. In Bethlehem he has been very successful as a contractor and builder, having erected many buildings, among them the Loyal Order of Moose Home, two apartment houses in Fountain Hill, six apartment houses in West Bethlehem, and eight residences at Market street and Tenth avenue. He also built the Aaron Potruch building on Third street, South Bethlehem. Mr. Baumann is a member of the Jewish Synagogue in Allentown, Pennsylvania, member of the Austrian Society of New York City, and Unity League Club, Bethlehem.


Mr. Baumann married, March 4, 1902, Sadie Willovitz, also born in Austria, and they are the parents of five children: Gussie, Barnett, George, Iran and Nathan.


FREDERICK BENEDICT VOEGELI-Switzerland was the home of the grandfather of Frederick B. Voegeli, of Easton, Pennsylvania, who located later in life in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany, where his son, George Voegeli, a banker, yet resides. George Voegeli married Babette Natter, and they are the parents of Frederick B. Voegeli, who was born in Augsburg, May 21, 1885. George Voegeli served his time in the German Army, and was influential in public affairs, serving in the City Council, and was head of the fire department. Of the five children of George and Babette (Natter) Voegeli, Frederick B. is the eldest and the only one who came to the United States.


Frederick B. Voegeli spent his youth in his native Augsburg, and ob- tained a good education in the city gymnasium and Royal School of Textile Technology of Rentlingen, Germany. He had two and one-half years of practical experience in cotton mill work before taking a two-year course of general study at the textile school, from which he was graduated in 1906, receiving a diploma of the first class. With this equipment he felt that greater opportunity awaited him in the United States, and in 1906 he came to New York City, where he entered the employ of Neuss, Hesslein & Com- pany, in the sample department of the export division for cotton goods. He remained with that company one year, then went with the Union Bleaching & Finishing Company, of Greenville, South Carolina, in charge of the com- pany's office there. He spent two and one-half years in the South, then followed nine months of service with the New Brunswick (New Jersey) Chemical Company, as traveling salesman. His trade was principally among textile manufacturers using dyes and chemicals. He resigned that position to aid in the organization of the Mansfield Bleachery, of Mansfield, Massa- chusetts, and for four years thereafter was office manager for that company. He then sold his interest, resigned his position, and in 1915 made Easton, Pennsylvania, his home and business headquarters. On May 1, 1915, he became general manager of the Easton Finishing Company, and on January 5, 1916, was elected president of the corporation. With an associate he bought up the outstanding stock of the company, and under his expert man- agement a business has been rescued from a low condition and place among the prosperous textile mills of Pennsylvania. The business of the plant is the bleaching, dyeing and finishing of all lines of all grades and weights of cotton goods ; pocketings, book cloth, dress goods, muslins and linings. This is a business for which Mr. Voegeli is especially adapted because of his tech- nical training and practical experience in both Germany and the United States, for his success with the present company is but a repetition of that


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which has followed his entire career as a textile manufacturer. He has gone through life with an observing eye, and has been able to invent devices and machines which have been of great value to the business, and these he fully controls.


In the business associations, both local, State and National, he is well known, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, State Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, National Association of Fin- ishers of Cotton Goods, Pennsylvania's Manufacturers' Association, North- ampton County Manufacturers' Association, and Easton Board of Trade, serving on the manufacturers' committee. Other organizations are: North- ampton County Historical Society, the Young Men's Christian Association, and the Rotary Club of Easton. In politics he is a Republican, and in reli- gious faith a Lutheran. His recreations are those of the out-of-doors, and of those, fishing and motoring are the most favored.


Mr. Voegeli married, October II, 19II, Mildred Bertha Hersey, daughter of William and Helen (Dunkerly) Hersey, of Central Falls, Rhode Island. Mrs. Voegeli is a graduate in music and an accomplished violinist. They are the parents of two children: Helen Babette and George Lehman.


ROBERT PARKE HUTCHINSON-One of Bethlehem's younger busi- ness men, Mr. Hutchinson came upon the scene of action at a time when his talents as an organizer and manager, as a public speaker and a one hundred per cent. American were in demand. Nobly he responded, and his work in rushing steel parts to the great shipbuilding plant from the plant of Bethlehem Fabricators, Inc., enabled the shipbuilding programme to go through with- out any hindrance from him. So, too, as local fuel administrator, he sur- mounted all difficulties, kept the home fires burning and the home wheels turning, and in every patriotic drive was one of the Four-Minute Men who inspired Bethlehem's audiences to greater buying and giving effort. He is a son of Elias S. and Mary (Seeley) Hutchinson, his family name one of the oldest and most honored in this country.


Robert P. Hutchinson was born in Washington, District of Columbia, May 24, 1882, and there completed public school study with graduation from high school. He then entered Lehigh University, and during the four years spent in that institution completed a mining engineer course, took part in athletics, was editor-in-chief of Brown and White, the university periodical, and gave especial attention to the Mustard and Cheese Dramatic Associa- tion, whose players he coached and managed. He was graduated E.M., class of 1904, and for a short period he was a mining engineer in the West Virginia coal fields. He then secured a position in the Bessemer steel department of the Carnegie Steel Company. From that department he went into the metal- lurgical department, but later was transferred to the sales department as special engineer sales agent, his headquarters in Cleveland and Philadelphia. In January, 1913, he became president and general manager of the Guerber Engineering Company, now Bethlehem Fabricators, Inc., whose plant is located at West Bethlehem, and there he has amply demonstrated his executive and managerial ability. The company in 1912 did a business of two hundred thousand dollars, and in 1918 two million dollars, the difference representing Mr. Hutchinson's success as a manager. Bethlehem Fabricators, Inc., are fabricators of structural steel for coal breakers and other purposes, and when the government embarked on the programme of fabricated steel ships, the plant practically side-tracked all other business and rushed steel to the ship- yards on Newark Bay, New Jersey, where the first fabricated steel ship ever built was launched on Memorial Day, 1918, and three more on the Fourth of July following.


When the coal situation demanded a local fuel administrator, Mr. Hutch- inson accepted the office from the government, and while he had the usual


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amount of dissatisfied people to combat, he kept everything moving and gained the respect and admiration of the community, even those who felt that they had been hardly dealt with. He was one of the eloquent Four Minute Men who did such valuable work in the various drives, and grandly did his part in a time which proved men's quality and saw many hitherto public idols shattered. He is also a director of the First National Bank of Bethlehem. In civic affairs he has taken the same interest, and with all his energy supported the "hill-to-hill" bridge and the consolidation campaigns. He is interested in farming as a breeder of blooded Jersey cows, and enjoys the open air recreations, his favorite sport hunting the wily bass and the elusive trout in the streams and ponds of the Pocono Mountains. His clubs are the Bethlehem, Racquet of Philadelphia, and Northampton County Coun- try. He is a member of Liberty Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and of Psi Upsilon fraternity, Lehigh University chapter. In religious connection he is an Episcopalian, in politics a Republican.


Mr. Hutchinson married, November 6, 1906, Elise Myers, daughter of William B. Myers, and they are the parents of two children: Virginia Stuart and William B. Myers Hutchinson.


JOSEPH RUSSELL CRAIG-This branch of the Craig family was founded in the United States by Benjamin Craig, born in Scotland, of Scotch- Irish ancestry, who came in 1836, and settled in the city of Philadelphia. His brother Alexander preceded him to the United States, he coming in 1820. Benjamin Craig was a dyer by trade, and in Philadelphia founded the Conti- nental Dye Works, which he owned and conducted until his death in 1876, at the age of fifty-two years, having lived in the United States from the. time he was twelve years of age. He married, when still a minor, Margaret Nichols, also born in Scotland, who came to the United States at the age of seven years, and died in 1865, aged thirty-five years. Benjamin and Margaret Craig were the parents of five children now living, two dying in childhood : Elizabeth, a resident of Philadelphia, unmarried; Joseph Russell, of further mention; William H., a lieutenant of police in the city of Philadelphia ; Edward, twin with William H., a banker of Chicago; John F., a gardener of Tacony, Pennsylvania.


Joseph Russell Craig, son of Benjamin and Margaret (Nichols) Craig, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 8, 1858. He was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia, and after finishing his school years became a smelter worker, but that work proving too strenuous for his health he abandoned it after about five years and entered railroad employ. He began as a fireman, and in course of time was promoted to the engineer's seat, continuing until about 1896 when he retired from railroad connection. In 1888 he moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and continued with the Phila- delphia & Reading railroad for ten years more. The dangers of railroad life were brought to him very forcibly, he seeing his engineer killed while he was a fireman, and witnessing the death of his fireman in an accident after he became an engineer. Finally, in 1898, he decided to seek a less strenuous occupation, and after much deliberation he established the business he has since very successfully conducted, cement contracting and general trucking. He has a good business, frequently requiring twenty horses to carry on his trucking business, prior to the substituting of motor trucks. Many of the roads and bridges of this and adjoining counties are monuments to his skill as a contractor and builder, and he has also laid probably two-thirds of the concrete sidewalks of the city of Bethlehem.


Mr. Craig is an independent Republican, and for twenty-two years, end- ing January 1, 1918, was a member of the West Bethlehem Council, and for five years was president of that body; he was acting burgess of West Beth- lehem for one year prior to the consolidation with Bethlehem, and for four


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years afterward was president of the City Council. He was reared in the Presbyterian church, but after his marriage joined the Lutheran church with his wife. He is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, and is one of the public-spirited, progressive men of his city.


Mr. Craig married (first) Sarah Wayne, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who died in 1885, without children. He married (second), December 29, 1888, Adelaide Tice, daughter of Frank and Paulina (Everhart) Tice, of Bethlehem. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Craig: Frank T., his father's busi- ness associate, married Mary Schrader; Warren, died in childhood; and two died in infancy.


REV. MICHAEL KUZIW-Since the Rev. Michael Kuziw's ordination to the priesthood of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church, the changes brought about in Galicia have changed the political status of that part of Europe, and it takes the name Ukraine from that extensive region in Russia embracing part of the territories of the old kingdom of Poland. The official title is now the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church. Rev. Michael Kuziw was educated and ordained to the ministry of that church in Lemberg, the seat of a Roman Catholic, Armenian and a Ukrainian Greek Catholic archbishop, the building, the Greek Metropolitan Church, with the archbishop's palace, being the finest in the city. Lemberg, the capital of Galicia, fell to Austria in the partition of Poland in 1772, when the bulk of Galicia was also seized by Austria. The bulk of the population of Galicia is of the Slavic race, about evenly divided among the Poles and Ukrainians, the former being Roman Catholics in religion, the latter belonging to the Greek Catholic church, united with Rome.


Rev. Michael Kuziw was born in the village of Denysin, Eastern Galicia, a crown land of Austria-Hungary until becoming the independent Ukrainian State in 1918, son of Stephen and Eudocia (Yurkiv) Kuziw. He was born September 17, 1885. He attended schools in Tarnopol and Lemberg until beginning theological study in Lemberg University. He came to the United States in 1909, and was ordained to the priesthood in Philadelphia by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Soter Ortynsky, bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church in the United States. While the Ukrainians are in harmony and union with the Holy See at Rome, there are wide difference in their laws, the most striking perhaps being the rule under which Ukrainian Greek Catho- lic priests may marry before ordination, a privilege they have held for more than twelve hundred years. The Ukrainian priests use the Slavic language in saying the Mass and at other church services, that language being handed down as the church language from the time of Saints Cyril and Methodius, who translated the service from Greek into the Slavic language to the exclusion of Latin and Greek. Father Kuziw celebrated his first Mass in the cathedral of the bishop's church in Philadelphia, and was at once assigned to the church at Buffalo, New York, continuing there as assistant for two months. He spent the next five months as pastor of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church at Watervliet, New York, going thence to the church at Alden, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, there serving the Church of St. John the Baptist as pastor for eight months. From Alden he was transferred to the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a congre- gation founded by his deceased brother, Rev. Elias Kuziw, and whom Rev. Michael Kuziw succeeded as pastor. He remained with that congregation two and one-half years, then was appointed pastor of the Church of St. John the Baptist, at Pottstown, Pennsylvania, remaining eight months, then for about two years was pastor of the Greek Rite Catholic Church at Allentown, Pennsylvania. On December 31, 1915, he was installed pastor of the Church of St. John the Baptist at Northampton, Northampton county, Pennsylvania,


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and for the four past years has ministered to the spiritual needs of that con- gregation of over two thousand souls, Ukrainians from Galicia and Northern Hungary, members of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church. The church edifice in which that congregation worship is a fine brick structure, highly creditable to the parish, and situated on Newport avenue, commanding a good view of the beautiful Lehigh Valley. A parsonage and a parochial school is a part of the church property.


Father Kuziw is a man of broad mind and progressive tendencies, his ten years of residence in this country but intensifying his natural tendencies and thoroughly developing an intensely patriotic American. He takes a deep interest in borough affairs, in its people and its institutions, no native son being more devoted in his citizenship than he. On July 4, 1918, he organized a Liberty parade in Northampton, and had the clergy of other denominations to address the audience which gathered to view the parade. Every war movement has had his hearty support, and all "drives" for funds has had his efficient co-operation. He has very strong convictions, but is most tolerant and liberal in his treatment of others, freely according that which he demands for himself, the right of his own freedom of conscience and thought. He is a supporter of the Republican party. His work as a minister of the Gospel has been greatly blessed in Northampton, spiritually and materially. He organ- ized the Society of the Sacred Heart for men and women of his congregation. An evening school is maintained for teaching his people to read, write and speak the English language, and all the departments of church work are in prosperous condition.


Father Kuziw married, in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1909, Mary Glowa, born in Shamokin, daughter of John and Catherine Glowa. They are the parents of four children: Olga, Sophie, John, and Michael, Jr. Mrs. Mary (Glowa) Kuziw died February 22, 1919, pneumonia being the cause of her death.


FRANK CONRAD WILLIAMS-For thirty-five years Frank Conrad Williams, manufacturer, has been identified with Easton's business interests, and either as official or shareholder is connected with half a score of North- ampton county's business and financial organizations. He descends in line from John and Ellen (Klinchen) Williams.


John Williams, the progenitor, was born in Wales, and in 1670 came from Merinth and settled in Cheltenham township, Montgomery county, Pennsyl- vania, where he married Ellen Klincher, born in Holland. Their son, Anthony Williams, married Sarah Shoemaker; their son, Anthony Williams, married Rachael Jorvitt; their son, Joseph Williams, married Ann Hollowell; their son, Anthony Williams, married Sarah Thompson; their son, Joseph Thomp- son Williams, married Margaret Jane Butler, and was the father of Frank Conrad Williams. The family were all farming people, prosperous and suc- cessful, from the first down to Joseph T. Williams, who was one of the most faithful devotees of the Quaker faith.


Joseph T. Williams was born and reared in Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania, and lived on a farm with his uncle, for his father had died when Joseph T. was but a small child. He was educated in the public schools, and completed his studies with collegiate training. He followed farming until he came to Easton and engaged in the manufacture of ground soapstone and other minerals, including dry paints, a large portion of which was imported from foreign countries. He continued in this business, which he had founded, until his death, which occurred July 21, 1906, four days before his seventy- third birthday. He was a keen, shrewd business man, and from the founda- tion laid by him in Easton has developed one of the largest and most successful businesses that forms a part of Easton's industrial world. He was public-spirited and always contributed toward anything that was for the


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welfare of the city. He married Margaret Jane Butler. Their children were : Frank Conrad, of whom further; Hannah E., a twin with Frank Conrad : Charles Koffman, a sketch of whom follows; Emma; two who died, Mary A. and George.


Frank Conrad Williams was born at the homestead in Jarrettown, Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania, May 7, 1860, and was educated in the public schools there. He spent his youth and early manhood at the home farm, and remained there until 1885, when he joined his father, Joseph T. Williams, in Easton, Pennsylvania. The father had moved to Easton in 1875, and established there a flour mill in addition to the other lines of mineral products. The building is one of the old historic grist-mills on Bushkill creek. In 1885 he completely rebuilt and modernized the old mill, and made it one of the best flour mills in Eastern Pennsylvania. On the coming of Frank C. Wil- liams in 1885, the father surrendered the management of that branch of the business to his son, who since that time has devoted his energies largely to the operation of the flour mill. The Williams mill is noted for the excellency of its product, and it is a matter of special pride with Mr. Williams to see that high standard maintained. The distribution of the product is in Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and during the recent World War the flour was taken by the government for export. In addition to the management of his private business, he is vice-president of C. K. Williams & Company ; president of the New Jersey Developing Company, of Phillipsburg, New Jersey ; director of the Easton National Bank; director of the Northampton Traction Company ; director of the South Easton Water Company; director of the Danville Tubing & Construction Company; and he is financially interested in various other enterprises of Easton and the vicinity.


Mr. Williams is identified with Easton's philanthropic movements, and he bears his share of the responsibilities of management. He is a member of the advisory board and building committee of the Easton Hospital, and for many years has been one of that institution's staunchest friends. He is a charter member of and one of the founders of the Olivet Presbyterian Church, is a present member of the session, and since the founding of the church has been chairman of the board of trustees. He was chairman of the building committee in charge of the erection of the splendid church edifice. The beautiful pulpit in that church is a gift from Mr. Williams as a memorial to his mother, while the bell in the tower was given in honor of his father, and bears the inscription cast in the bell of the dates of birth and death of his father. Olivet Presbyterian Church is one of the large and usefully active congregations of the Easton district, and no lay member has contributed more largely to this result than Mr. Williams. He is a member of the Pomfret Club ; the Rotary Club; Easton Board of Trade; Dallas Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Easton Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Pomp Council, Royal and Select Masters ; Hugh de Payen Commandery, Knights Templar ; Rajah Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Reading, Pennsylvania; and has been an active supporter of the Young Men's Christian Association for many years. While the foregoing outlines his principal interests, it by no means covers the full scope, for his broad mind and public spirit lead him to champion and support all good causes.


Mr. Williams married, September 27, 1887, Martha Washington Shull, daughter of Alexander Sherrard and Margaret (Stocker) Shull, of Martins Creek, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Williams shares her husband's interest in civic, church and charitable work. Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Williams are the parents of an only child, a daughter, Margaret Elizabeth, wife of Lieut. Carlton Schwab Wagner, of the United States Aviation Corps. When the armistice was signed, he received his discharge from the army and went back to his business at Danville, Pennsylvania, in his official capacity, president of the Danville Structural & Tubing Company. Mr. Williams has taken especial


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interest and has actively aided in the various loans and drives of the war period, and in all has been an efficient worker. His city residence, "Marga- willa," one of Easton's beautiful houses, is one of the best specimens of Colonial architecture, and is furnished exclusively in Colonial period furni- ture, of which both Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been enthusiastic collectors for many years.


Mrs. Williams is descended through her paternal line from Johan Peter and Ann Mary Schall, as then spelled, who came from the Palatinate city of Worms, and landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August, 1739. Johan P. Schall became an extensive land owner, and operated a grist and saw-mill and a distillery. He settled in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, which was his permanent home. The family were members of the Lutheran church. The line descends through the son of Johan P., Elias Shull, and his first wife, who was a Miss Gruver ; through his son, Philip Shull, and his wife, Margaret (Bryan) Shull. Next in line was Alexander S. Shull, father of Mrs. Frank C. Williams. He was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, at Martins Creek, in August, 1834, and died in March, 1909. He was well educated and taught school for a time. He was a machinist by trade, but early in life engaged in business, and owned and operated the School Slate Factory, and was the one to introduce the round corner slates, inventing the process and patenting it. He was active in the work of the church, and was locally considered a vocalist of no mean order, and he taught the young people of the neighborhood. He was the advisor of the community in all its affairs, for he was a conscientious and honorable man who inspired the confidence of all. The wife of Alexander S. Shull was Margaret (Stocker) Shull. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Shull were the parents of three children, as follows: I. Horatio, now practically retired, but his entire life was spent in the coffee business in Philadelphia ; married Sarah J. Harris; she died in March, 1917, and bore him the following children: Margaret E., wife of Frank B. Wither- spoon, of Easton; Helen E., wife of James B. Neal, of Easton; and Horatio, married Nellie M. Lantz, of Easton. 2. Martha W., wife of Frank C. Williams, 3. Mary E., deceased wife of James B. Neal.




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