History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume III, Part 51

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 51


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in the volume of his business has been caused by the untiring energy and devotion of Mr. Meyer to its upbuilding, to the modern and efficient methods he has inaugurated in his factory, and finally and principally to the high quality of his product. Mr. Meyer has capitalized the up-to-date methods of his plant and its high sanitary improvements and precautions in the adver- tisement of his ice-cream, and a wide and steadily increasing patronage has been the result.


Mr. Meyer is a Republican in political faith, although his private affairs have prevented his entering actively into political life, and for four terms he served as auditor of Bushkill township. He fraternizes with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Independent Americans, and has been for many years a deacon and trustee of the Reformed church. He married, in November, 1881, Amanda, daughter of John A. and Louise (Fen- stermaker) Person, of Lehigh township, Northampton county. Her father was a farmer of that county, and served in the Civil War in Company H, One Hundred and Fifty-third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was with the Union forces throughout the duration of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are the parents of: Minnie F., married Edwin J. Shrader, who is in the employ at the factory, and they are the parents of Arline, Gertrude and Edwin; Dama, died in May, 1907, at the age of twenty-two years; Nellie May, died in 1913, aged sixteen years; Ruth Irene, is Mr. Meyer's chief assistant in the business.


The retail store is at the corner of Main and Broad streets, and is Bethlehem's popular ice-cream parlor. The company is installing a plant in conjunction with the factory for the purpose of bottling and pasteurizing milk in large quantities for the trade. They have also recently bought a milk station at Bath, Pennsylvania.


ANTONIO CASTELLUCCI-In 1887, Antonio Castellucci came to the United States, he then a young man of thirty-two. He was the son of Giovaniangelo and Fiorinda Castellucci, his father a wholesale wine merchant of Colle Sannita, in the fertile province of Benevento Compania, Italy. Ten years after the coming of his son, the father came to the United States (1897), his wife having died in Italy. He made his home with his son in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, surviving the change of home six years, until his death, Decem- ber 10, 1903.


Antonio Castellucci was born in Colle Sannita, Benevento, Italy, Novem- ber 21, 1855, and there spent the years until 1887, acquiring an education and early learning the shoemaker's trade. He had become an expert at his trade, and through a knowledge of his father's business had become well equipped for the battle of life. He was in fairly good circumstances in Benevento, and would perhaps have remained there in contentment but for the stories which came overseas of the success others of his race were winning in the newer Western World. He was drafted for service in the Italian Army in 1875 (at the age of twenty years) and served for three years, attaining the rank of major-corporal. After completing his army service, he spent some years with his father in the wine business, and at the age of twenty-six married, but after about three years of wedded life was left a widower. He continued in Italy for a time, but in 1887 came the great opportunity and he embraced it to his great temporal gain. In 1887 a young Italian friend, Antonio Madda- lena, who had been in the United States, returned to Italy, and was married to Theresa Castellucci, a sister of Antonio. The young married couple re- turned to the United States, sailing on April 24, 1887, Antonio Castellucci accompanying them. He landed in New York, and after spending a few days in that city, took up his permanent residence in South Bethlehem, Pennsyl- vania. Not understanding nor speaking English, his first years in his new home were difficult, but he possessed the dogged courage of his race and he


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accepted every kind of work which came to him. He spent six months in the employ of the Bethlehem Steel Company, but whenever possible worked at his trade. Finally he accumulated sufficient capital to start a shoe repair shop of his own, and for five years he persistently applied himself to his business. He then sold out, and with what he had earned, added to the pro- ceeds of the sale of his shop, went to New York City, and invested it in a saloon. Six months there sufficed to complete a business failure, and he returned to Bethlehem, there again taking up his trade, which could always be depended upon to bring him a good living. For two years he continued at his shoemaker's bench until finally, in 1897, he became engaged in the business which brought him gain and placed him fairly on the road to success. He had, during his ten years in the United States, thoroughly absorbed American business methods as well as the language, and seeing how difficult it was for his countrymen to secure suitable work and wages, and how greatly contractors needed that labor, he established an agency and became a regular intermediary between contractors and laborers, to the great benefit of all concerned. He continued as labor contractor for various Easton contractors, and supplied the large firm of Mitchell, Connell & Donnelly with their men for four years, then for eighteen years was similarly connected with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, supplying them with labor for all their construction and maintenance needs. As he prospered in his business as a labor contractor, he invested his profits in real estate, and for eighteen years conducted a banking business in South Bethlehem, sold steamship tickets, domestic and foreign money orders, and generally acted as financial agent for his less informed countrymen.


Another of his investments was the Palace Theater, which he built and operated with successful financial results. He is also a director of the E. P. Wilbur Building and Loan Association, and is one of the most public-spirited of men, striving all in his power to return in good citizenship payment for the opportunity this country has given him to rise to honorable position. He has been one of the strong supporters of Holy Infancy Roman Catholic Church, but his interest has extended to other parishes, and particularly Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, for which he purchased the pews, the priests' vestments, a statue of St. Joseph, and a painting for the altar. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Foresters of America, Sons of Italy, and other Italian societies.


Mr. Castellucci married (first) in Benevento, Italy, in 1881, Maria Nigro, who died in 1884, without children. He married (second) in South Bethle- hem, Pennsylvania, a widow, Mrs. Mary (Fanella) Salvatore, who was also the mother of a son, Joseph Salvatore, who resides in Bethlehem, married, and has a son Anthony and a daughter Josephine. By his second marriage, Mr. Castellucci has three children: Florence, a graduate of Holy Infancy School, class of 1912; John, a graduate of South Bethlehem Business College, class of 1914, now a student at Philadelphia College of Pharmacy; Anna, a graduate of South Bethlehem High School, class of 1918.


ANGELO TOCCI-Near the beautiful city of Naples, the most populous city of Italy, Angelo Tocci was born April 13, 1872, and there the first thir- teen years of his life were spent. He then came to the United States, landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, there finding a home with Rosa Gallio. He had gained some knowledge of the construction trade in Italy and intended working at that in Philadelphia, but he found that he was too young to pass the close scrutiny of the American law. So in order to not be a burden upon his friends, he took up the life of a bootblack and newsboy. For five years he resided in Philadelphia, outgrowing the bootblack's kit, and he then deter- mined to find a better field of labor. In 1890, at the age of eighteen years, he came to Bethlehem and obtained work in the Bethlehem Steel Works as a


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machinist's helper. For three years he continued in that position, then with the capital which he had accumulated he went to Easton, Pennsylvania, and opened a Turkish bath establishment, with a barber shop and shoe shining parlor in connection. This was very elaborate in all its departments, and far in advance of any similar establishment in Easton. He conducted a successful business for a time, and later added a moving picture theatre. In 1907 he returned to Bethlehem and opened a moving picture theatre on East Broad street, he being the first man with confidence enough in the future of the now prominent Bethlehem street to invest his money in a business venture on it. After the moving picture business was proving a success, he added a barber shop, a shoe shining and hat renovating department, and a pool room, all of which have proven successful, and are still continued under his own management. He also operates in real estate from time to time, and has been very successful in that line of business.


Mr. Tocci married, in 1895, Rosa Puppi, of Philadelphia, and they are the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom are living: Mamie, Sullivan, Patsy, Mary, Lena, Frank, Evangeline, Alfred, Lucy and Dominick. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church, the father a member of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, Sons of Italy, Italian Benefit Society, and in politics is a Democrat.


CHARLES GROETZINGER-Adolph Groetzinger, born in Goetling, Germany, came to the United States when young and located in Easton, Pennsylvania. He was a baker by trade, but later became a miller, owning and operating a mill located on the south side of Bushkill creek, opposite Goose Island. This mill was on the site of the first saw-mill in Easton, and was built originally by Peter Ihrie. Afterwards it was a fulling mill, then an oil, finally a flouring mill which, under Adolph Groetzinger, was known as the Mount Jefferson Flouring Mill, where thirty thousand bushels of grain were ground annually. Adolph Groetzinger married Matilda Messinger, his first wife, Miss Weaver, leaving him a daughter, Augusta. By his second wife there were four children: Charles, of further mention; Louise, married Ascher Odenwelder, of Easton; William, deceased; and Rudolph, deceased. Adolph Groetzinger died in 1888.


Charles Groetzinger was born in Easton, November 18, 1847, died in Easton. January 1, 1917. After completing his studies in the public schools and at Nazareth Hall, he began, in 1865, working in his father's mill on the Bushkill creek, learning the milling business thoroughly. About 1879 his father retired from the active management of the mill and was succeeded by his son, Charles, who continued the business until his retirement, ten years prior to his death. He was a good business man and won from the milling industry a generous competence. He was actively interested in all that pertained to the welfare of his city, and in a quiet way aided to the full extent of his opportunity. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, and in politics a Democrat. His life was one of usefulness to his fellowmen, and he carried to the grave their highest esteem as a man of sterling integrity and character.


Mr. Groetzinger married, June 17, 1877, Catharine Bartow, of Easton, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Brown) Bartow, her mother of the Warren county, New Jersey, Brown family. Mrs. Groetzinger was educated in the Upper Mount Bethel schools, and her residence is at No. 238 Bushkill street.


ONOFRIO SACCHETTI-In the province of Foggia, town of Roseto Valfortore, Italy, in the year 1868, Onofrio Sacchetti was born, and there attended the church and State schools until fifteen years of age. He then began learning the tailor's trade under his father's instruction, but did not cease his study, and continued a night school student for some time. He


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did not take kindly to the tailor's trade, his tastes all being for the out-of- door life of a farmer. Finally he took the matter into his own hands, left home, and went to work for a neighboring farmer. His first daily wage was the equivalent of five cents in American money, but as he grew older this was advanced to ten, fifteen, and seventeen cents daily. He then hired out by the year, receiving his board and three dollars and fifty cents as a yearly wage. He was a faithful, industrious lad, and finally reached the very high figure of eighteen dollars yearly with board. These were hard days for the lad, his work often being steep hillside plowing, with a donkey, a steer or a cow to pull the plow. The farm help slept in a large outbuilding, on straw pallets, a bed being unknown to them. Each worker was given a piece of smoothed wood upon which was entered a record of what each got at the commissary. If a man wanted a loaf of bread, his piece of wood was taken from a nail on the wall and a nick was cut in it signifying the quantity used. The hard work and cheerless living disheartened him, and hearing a great deal from returning Italians about the money-making opportunities in the United States, he finally determined that he, too, would break away from old traditions and seek his fortune in the Eldorado of the West, which had been so often described to him.


In October, 1886, he sailed out of beautiful Naples bay, and forty-eight days later sailed up that wonderful harbor of the New World-New York bay-and caught his first view of the tall goddess who sheds her radiant beams for the enlightenment of the whole world. The vessel upon which he crossed combined steam and sail as motive power, and en route touched land several times between Naples and New York to take on cargo, principally nuts, raisins and fruit of various kinds. At Gibraltar coal was taken on board, and from the time of leaving the European coast, storms and rough weather were constantly encountered, and often the vessel was beaten back instead of advancing. This led to an uprising which threatened the captain's life, but was finally quelled after several mutineers were placed in irons. At last New York was reached, and the lad went ashore, a stranger in a strange land, with a cash capital of ten dollars. Labor of the unskilled variety was then plentiful, but he could not secure work, although countrymen whom he had known in Italy aided him. A cousin in Newark, New Jersey, was appealed to, and he sent him on to Bangor, Northampton county, Pennsyl- vania, and there he received employment in the State quarries with pick and shovel. He soon learned the business, became a regular quarryman, and was fairly "on his feet." There were several Italians employed in Bangor, and he found friends who were kind to him when later he suffered an illness which kept him from his work for some time. This resulted in his being in debt, when he finally recovered and returned to work; but he was young, full of hope and ambition, soon was again "square with the world," and on the road to prosperity. At the quarry he was a laborer for several years, and continued there employed. At the end of that period he had saved some money, and he again determined upon a change, hoping to better his condition. He invested his capital in a fruit and candy store of modest proportions in Bangor, and that was really the beginning of his success. The little store grew, and ere long the proprietor made regular trips to New York, where he purchased his fruit at the steamer side. As he increased in business acumen and knowledge of the English language, written and spoken, he became an agent for his countrymen in their business transactions. He prospered in Bangor, but being ambitious for further advancement, he sold out his busi- ness and went to Montreal, Canada, intending to engage in business there. But after looking the city over carefully he decided not to invest, and soon afterward he gave up a position he was holding with the Grand Trunk railroad and returned to Bangor, there again entering business life on about the same lines as of old. Two years later he sold out and entered the contracting


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field, executing contracts in furnishing laborers for all kinds of construction work. He made Easton his headquarters, and has been very successful, and has practically made contracting his sole business. He is agent for the various steamship lines, and does a general business for the Italians as well as other nationalities.


But there is another phase of his business career which was and is very important-his dealings in real estate, city and country, improved and unim- proved. His dealings have been very large, he having been the owner of as many as twenty farms, and for the past several years has operated several of his farms on account of the war, which caused several of the farms to be thrown back on his hands. He is a man of great industry, and energetically pushes forward any undertaking with which he is connected. He takes no part in politics, but tries to vote for the right man and advises his countrymen only when they ask him to do so. He has won wealth and position during the years which have passed since he came to New York an unknown, almost penniless, boy, and he can look back over those years with satisfaction.


Mr. Sacchetti married, in Easton, in 1900, Rose A. Gorman, daughter of Dennis Gorman, foreman of navigation in the service of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, and Mary (Carroll) Gorman. Mr. and Mrs. Sacchetti are the parents of four daughters: Elizabeth Agatha, a student in Easton High School; Mary Veronica; Agnes Cecelia; and Princess Jolanda.


FRANK BIRO-Educated for an artist's career in Hungary, his native land, and the recipient of worthy honors in exhibitions in Budapest, Frank Biro, of Bethlehem, has devoted his efforts in his American residence mainly to photography, although for a time he did some work in sculpture in New York City. He is a son of Frank Biro, who died in Hungary in 1910, and Mary (Fedor) Biro. His mother for a short time resided in the United States, but being then a woman of sixty years of age, found it difficult to acclimate herself to new conditions, and in consequence returned to Hungary, where she now lives.


Frank Biro was born at Ungvar, Hungary, December 26, 1879, and was educated in the gymnasium of his birthplace, where he completed his studies ; he then devoted his time to the development of his artistic talents through study in the Budapest Academy of the Fine Arts, whence he was graduated. For two years thereafter he was under the instruction of the noted artists and sculptors of the city, receiving special instruction from John Fadrusz and Joseph Rona. He attained unusual proficiency in sculpture, and on three different occasions his work was exhibited to the public, a rare honor for a student to receive. Coming to the United States in 1904, he remained for a short time in New York, where he completed several busts, in 1907 establish- ing his present photographic studio in Bethlehem. From the first, the quality of his workmanship assured his venture of success, and it has con- stantly attained larger dimensions until its direction requires all of his time. The demands of his studio leave him little time for his work in clay, although he has lost none of his love for his art. An artist in every fibre of his body, Mr. Biro's tastes find expression in music, and he is an accomplished per- former upon the violin, as are his children on both the violin and piano.


Frank Biro holds the thirty-second degree in Masonry, a Knight Templar, Commandery No. 90, of Bethlehem, also being a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, Rajah Temple, Reading, Pennsylvania, and he fraternizes as well with the Knights of Pythias. He is a communicant of St. John's Lutheran Church of Bethlehem.


He married, November 3, 1908, Gizella Gulyassy, also a native of Hun- gary, who came to the United States in the same month as her husband, although they had never met before their residence in Bethlehem. They are the parents of: Zoltan, born September 2, 1909; Gizella, born February 13,


John Abel


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IQII ; Frank, Jr., born April 13, 1912; Margaret, born July 23, 1913; Piroska, born July 16, 1915 ; Elmer, born October 30, 1917.


JOHN ABEL -- Perhaps there is no better known place of business in Easton than Abel's Confectionery, a business now conducted by the children of John Abel, who established it in the year 1845. For forty-six years John Abel dealt out confections to Eastonians, young and old, then passed to the Great Beyond, his widow, Maria E. (Reichard) Abel, then conducting the store until her death three years later, in 1894. Then the children of the founders, unwilling to see the business which for half a century had been in the Abel name pass to others, decided to continue its operation, and for nearly a quarter of a century Abels have continued the store name, and its affairs administered by Abels. Emma and J. Edward Abel have passed away during this period, the present proprietors being Mrs. Isabelle A. Hartzell, her husband, Howard A. Hartzell, and Miss Mary Abel. Since 1916, the present management has controlled the business, which is a most prosperous one, but never in its history has there been long-continued periods of depres- sion at "Abels." It is now in its seventy-third year of operation under parents and children. Since 1873, an ice-cream department has been added, and a feature of the business is the fact that a large share of the candy sold is made on the premises. A wholesale department is condutced in addition to the retail, and a business is transacted most satisfactorily to the proprietors, and in a manner equally pleasing to customers.


John Abel, founder of the business, was the son of John Abel, son of Jacob Abel, son of John Jacob Abel, who operated a ferry boat on the Dela- ware river at Easton, and is said to have had General Washington for a passenger on one of his trips across the Delaware. John Abel, the founder of Abel's Confectionery, was born in Easton, March 29, 1814, and died at his home in that city, May 17, 1891. He founded "Abels" in 1845, and remained its head until his last illness, then surrendered its cares to his worthy helpmeet who had been his strong helper all through the life of the store. He was keenly alive to the interests of the then borough of Easton, served on the Borough Council, and lent his best efforts to the upbuilding of a bigger, better Easton. He was a member of the vestry of St. John's Lutheran Church for many years; and affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.


He married Maria E. Reichard, born in Easton, December 29, 1811, died in her native city, April 27, 1894, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Hay) Reichard. They were the parents of ten children: Louisa C., deceased wife of W. W. Cottingham, a former superintendent of the public schools of Easton ; Charles J., a confectioner, who died April 4, 1918; A. Elizabeth, widow of W. E. Hamman; Emma M., deceased; Emanuel, deceased ; John H., deceased; Josephine, wife of George T. Hamman; Isabelle A., wife of Howard A. Hartzell; J. Edward, deceased; Mary, who, with her sister, Isa- belle A., and brother-in-law, Howard A. Hartzell, constitute the present management of the Abel Confectionery business. She is an active worker in all war activities, and associated in membership with Easton Red Cross Chapter, and with the Navy League. The family are members of St. John's Lutheran Church. Mrs. Hartzell is also a member of the Red Cross and Navy League, as well as all activities in war work. Mr. Howard A. Hartzell has been active in all things for public good. He was the first Republican elected to the council from the Sixth Ward, Easton, and served that body from 1888 to 1896. He was elected mayor in 1896.


HARRY SOFFERMAN-Solomon Sofferman, a well known shirt manu- facturer and real estate dealer of New York City, was of Prussian birth, two of his sisters being leading physicians of Petrograd, connected with the staff


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of the great Petrograd Hospital, also two brothers, one a lawyer, another a government purchasing agent. Solomon Sofferman married Gertrude Volin- sky, and they were the parents of seven sons: Adolph, now a broker of New York City; Amelias, a member of the New York City bar, who died in 1918; Abraham, in the machinery business in New York; Job, a sporting goods dealer of Bayonne, New Jersey; Morris, a real estate broker of Bayonne; Harry, of further mention; Irving, superintendent of the New York State Compensation Board.


Harry Sofferman was born in New York City, in 1882. He was educated in the public schools, and early in life became a shirt manufacturer in associa- tion with his father. Later he became a manager of the firm, Loudon & Hyman, operating factories at Portland, Windgap and East Bangor, all in Northampton county, Pennsylvania. In 1906, Mr. Sofferman came to Bangor, Pennsylvania, and purchased the factory owned by Louise Beck, and soon after the firm, Loudon & Hyman was organized. That firm began business in the Beck factory with Harry Sofferman as manager, but in 1918 he leased the business, full control passing to him in April, 1919. The business employs about two hundred and fifty hands, principally women, and manufactures mens' shirts exclusively.




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