USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume III > Part 6
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(VI) Wilson H. Boehm, eldest son of James Monroe and Maria (Desh) Boehm, was born at the paternal farm in Lower Saucon township, North- ampton county, Pennsylvania, January 14, 1840. He attended the district school, and was his father's farm assistant until 1865, when he came to South Bethlehem and entered the employ of the Bethlehem Iron Company, now the Bethlehem Steel Company. He continued in the employ of that com- pany for ten years, then, in 1875, purchased a farm in the Bethlehem section, and for twenty-five years, 1875-1900, operated it very profitably as a truck farm, marketing the products of his farm in Bethlehem. He retired in 1900, and is now (1919) enjoying the comforts and ease to which his life of active, intelligent farming richly entitles him. He has been a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows for fifty-one years, and of the Masonic Order for thirty-four years. In the latter order he is a past master of Hellertown Lodge. He is a deacon of the Reformed church, and in politics is a Demo- crat.
Mr. Boehm married, February 24, 1861, at Allentown, Pennsylvania, Louisa Ache, daughter of Michael and Louisa (Werling) Ache. Her father was a farmer of Lower Saucon township. Mrs. Boehm was born at the home farm, December 16, 1840, and after thirty-nine years of happy married life died at her home in Hellertown, June 6, 1900. Mr. Boehm resides in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, now a borough of Northampton county, of which town his ancestor, Anthony William Boehm, was a resident and one of the founders.
(VI) Alfred J. Boehm, youngest child and fifth son of James Monroe and Maria (Desh) Boehm, was born in Lower Saucon township, Northamp- ton county, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1859, and is now residing in Heller- town, a thriving borough of that township, situated in the fertile Saucon Valley. He was educated in the public schools, and after several years of farming and teaming became a resident of Hellertown, and is the Heller- town agent for the Caloric Pipeless Furnaces. He also conducts a general hauling business, and is active in business affairs. Mr. Boehm is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Junior Order of American Mechanics, and the Reformed church. In politics he is a Democrat, and for nine years served as a member of Heller- town Borough Council.
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Mr. Boehm married, August 5, 1878, Tevilla S. Owens, born in Lower Saucon, January II, 1861, died in Hellertown, April 4, 1911, daughter of Samuel and Lavina (Weaver) Owens, of Lower Saucon. Her father was born in Wales, Great Britain. Children: I. Flora C., born June 2, 1881 ; married, September 7, 1900, Harry J. Harvey, of Hellertown, who died Janu- ary 4, 1918; his widow now serves as postmaster of Hellertown; she has two children: Elroy Joseph and Wilbur Gladstone Harvey. 2. Jabez, a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, class of 1904, and of Oberlin Theological Seminary, 1907, now pastor of the Reformed church at Quarryville, Pennsylvania; he married Helen Connor, of Quarryville, and has a son, Jabez, Jr. 3. Elizabeth, who died in 1915, wife of Theodore Lamprose, of Norristown, Pennsylvania. 4. Ida Mae, mar- ried John Rodney Moffett, foreman of Machine No. 6, Bethlehem Steel Works. 5. Norman. 6. Jennings, born September 19, 1900, now works for the Silvex Company, Hellertown ; he married, November, 1918, Marion Santee, of Hor- nell, New York.
JAMES HENRY STACEY -- The Kendrick Cleaning and Dyeing Estab- lishment, located at No. 609 Walnut street, Easton, was formerly known as the Berlin Cleaners and Dyers, but when war was declared upon Germany by the United States the patriotic owners, James Henry Stacey and John R. Kendrick, brothers-in-law, hastened to eliminate a word which had become so distasteful to almost the entire world. Mr. Stacey had for many years prior to his engaging in the dyeing and cleaning business had wide experi- ence as a pottery worker, learning his trade in the Trenton, New Jersey, potteries, and then going to the Ohio pottery manufacturing section.
He is a son of John Stacey, born in Eccleshall, a small town of Staf- fordshire, England, in 1842, who there learned the barber's trade, which he followed all his active years. He married, in Leek, Staffordshire, June I, 1882, Harriet Deakin, born in Leek, March 24, 1864, and there the young couple resided until 1885, when they came to the United States, locating in Trenton, New Jersey. John Stacey opened a shop on Perry street, and there continued in business until his death in 1892. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and is buried in Riverview Cemetery at Tren- ton. John and Harriet (Deakin) Stacey were the parents of two sons, James Henry, of further mention; and William Edward, both born in Tren- ton, New Jersey. William E. learned the watchmaker's trade, but enlisted, and has long been with the American Expeditionary Force in France. He married Cecelia Masker. Mrs. Harriet (Deakin) Stacey survived her hus- band and married (second) James J. Bagnall, who died in January, 1909, leaving a son, Lawrence E. Bagnall, who is now a private of Company A, Sixtieth United States Infantry, with the American Expeditionary Force in France.
James Henry Stacey, eldest son of John and Harriet (Deakin) Stacey, was born at the Perry street home of his parents in Trenton, New Jersey, October 9, 1884. He attended public school in Trenton until 1898, then be- came a potter's apprentice, Trenton being one of the principal manufactur- ing centers of the United States. He served an apprenticeship of five years, then for two years more remained in Trenton as a journeyman potter. Dur- ing this period, however, he had become interested in the subject of dyes and dyeing, making this a matter of study and thought. But he continued his work as a pottery pressman in Trenton, New Jersey; Columbus, Ohio; and Mannington, West Virginia; finally returning to Trenton, where he again worked in the potteries. In 1908 he opened a dyeing and cleaning shop in Trenton, but a year later moved his business to Phillipsburg, New Jersey, there remaining another year. In 1910 he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, John R. Kendrick, and opened a cleaning and dye-
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ing establishment which they operated as The Berlin Cleaners and Dyers. This name was changed in 1917 to the Kendrick Dyeing and Cleaning Com- pany, and on August 12, 1918, Mr. Stacey became its proprietor through purchase of the partner's interest. He continues the business at No. 609 Walnut street, Easton, and has won a secure place in public regard as his abundant patronage testifies. He is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and of the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Stacey married, August 26, 1907, Edith M. Kendrick, born in Har- risburg, Pennsylvania, June 14, 1883, daughter of John and Marion R. (Bes- sonnett) Kendrick, and granddaughter of Thomas Kendrick, who was born, lived, and died in England. Marion Bessonett was a daughter of John Bessonnett, of Burlington, New Jersey, where his father died, leaving a fam- ily of eleven children. John Bessonett was a millwright, who ended his useful life in Phillipsburg, at the great age of eighty-eight years. The Bes- sonetts are of French ancestry, and in Colonial days a member of the famliy kept the Bessonett Inn at Burlington, New Jersey, and was well known to travelers in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The old inn- keeper had two brothers in the Revolutionary War, and he ended his life in retirement at Bristol, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Edith M. (Kendrick) Stacey grew to womanhood in Harrisburg, her education being obtained in Trenton pub- lic schools. She is a member of Christ Episcopal Church, Trenton. Mr. and Mrs. Stacey are the parents of three sons, Harold Kenneth, Howard Russell, and Francis Raymond Stacey.
J. JAMES CONDRAN, M. D .- As head of Easton Department of Pub- lic Health, Dr. Condran brought to his task the aid of modern sanitary development and knowledge, and an enthusiasm and expert helpfulness which has made his administration of the department most satisfactory to the people and given Easton a high standard of health conditions. He has been engaged in the private practice of his profession in Easton since 19II, and has been head of the public health department of the city since 1912. Dr. Condran is the only son of Jeremiah and Mary Jane (Kane) Condran, his father a retired silk manufacturer of Easton. His only sister, Josephine Condran, married William Kolb, of Easton.
Dr. J. James Condran was born at Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe county, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1886. He was educated in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, public schools, finishing with high school graduation, class of 1906, and at Medico-Chirurgical Medical College, Philadelphia, there receiving his M.D., class of 1910. After graduation he accepted appointment as house surgeon to the General Hospital, Paterson, New Jersey, and at River Lawn Sanitarium, same city, but one year later resigned and in 19II returned to Easton where he at once began private practice. He was appointed and yet serves on the medical staff of Easton Hospital, is surgeon to the Stewart Silk Mills, Zehnder Brick Company, Gunning Silk Company, Schaible Bakery Company, is chief of the Easton branch of the Pennsylvania State Genito- Urinary Dispensary, and from all these sources is kept very busy. In 1912 he was appointed city health officer, reappointed in 1914, 1916, 1918, now serving his fourth consecutive term of two years each. He is a member of the Northampton County Medical Society, Pennsylvania State Medical Society, American Medical Association, Knights of Columbus, the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, Pomfret Club, Spartan Club, St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, and is a Republican in politics.
Dr. Condran married, April 9, 1912, Mary Elizabeth Wohlback, and they are the parents of a daughter, Mary Louise, and a son, J. James, Jr.
EARL M. SLACK-As head of the Diehl & Slack Company, which he founded in Easton, Mr. Slack is reaping the benefits of his own skill and
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business enterprise, he having come to the city a young man and an electri- cian. That he has succeeded and won a place in the business life of his adopted city is greatly to his credit. He is a son of George M. and Amanda (Snyder) Slack.
Earl M. Slack was born in Bangor, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, April 12, 1887. He was educated in Bangor public schools, and after gradua- tion from high school entered the employ of the Bangor Electric Light, Heat & Power Company, remaining there two years. The year following was spent with the Bethlehem Steel Company, in the electrical department. He next located in Easton, where he was employed by local electric contractors until 1906, when he formed a partnership with Edward M. Diehl, of Easton, under the firm name, Diehl & Slack, electrical engineers and contractors. They began business at the corner of Tenth and Northampton streets, and in 1909 incorporated their business as the Diehl & Slack Company, Mr. Diehl, president, Mr. Slack, secretary-treasurer. In 1914 Mr. Slack bought the Diehl stock, and has since been the executive head and manager. In 1915 the business headquarters of the company was again moved to No. 320 Ferry street, where a prosperous general electrical contracting and engineering business is conducted in Easton, Pennsylvania, and Phillipsburg, New Jersey. The company carries a full line of electrical supplies and fixtures, and in all things keeps abreast of all electrical improvements and advancement. Mr. Slack is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the First Reformed Church of Easton, Pennsylvania. He is affiliated with Bangor Lodge No. 1106, Benevolent and . Protective Order of Elks, and is highly regarded by his friends and business associates.
Mr. Slack married, October 20, 1909, Bertha C. Shover, of Wind Gap, Pennsylvania, daughter of John Shover. They are the parents of a daughter, Arline Bertha. The family home is at No. 13 South Eleventh street.
J. FREDERICK OSTERSTOCK-As manager of Easton's three lead- ing theatres, Mr. Osterstock is responsible to a large degree for the quality and quantity of theatrical entertainment furnished the people of the city. That the responsibility is well met is the consensus of Easton's opinion, and the degree of prosperity which has attended the operation of the theatres which he manages is the only other evidence needed to prove that as pur- veyor of entertainment to the public he is a success. Mr. Osterstock is a member of the seventh generation of the family founded in Pennsylvania by Matthias Osterstock, Sr., who came to Philadelphia in 1749.
J. Frederick Osterstock is a son of Joseph Swift Osterstock, of Easton, a veteran of the Civil War, successful merchant and worthy citizen, now gone to his reward. According to competent authority, the Osterstocks of Easton descend from Grav Friderick Zolr der Ostertag, who in 1315 lived at Tabingen in Würtemberg, as per Schmidt's "History of the Palatine Counts of Zollern-hohenberg." Siegfriend Ostertag, a descendant of the above, lived in Stuttgart, in the same principality, in 1393. The two families noted in the vicinity in 1870 in a work of Heraldry by Rietstap, whose coat- of-arms denote a common origin, are as follows: Ostertag of Suabia (in- cluded now in Würtemberg and Bavaria, capital, Augsburg), also Ostertag of Nordlingen, on the border between the two former states, whose coat-of- arms is as follows: D'azur a un agneau pascal d'argent, la tete entouree D'une aureole d'or, passant, sur une colline de sinople. Cimier, l'agneau pascal. Lambrequins ; d'or et d'azur. This being interpreted is :
Arms-On a shield of blue with an Easter lamb of silver, the head surrounded with a halo of gold, walking on a hill of green.
Crest-Easter lamb. Drapery : of gold and blue.
(I) Matthias Ostertag, born in 1729, emigrated with his father, being more than seventeen when he arrived in this country. They no doubt settled near
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Bethlehem, as a descendant by the name of John was assessed there in 1794.
(II) Thomas Osterstock, born in 1750, died in 1773, is believed to be a son of the above, although there are no records to substantiate it. He lived in Forks township, immediately to the north of the city of Easton, and died intestate, as shown by the court recorder. The bond was filed June 21, 1773, indicating about the time of his death. His wife, Mary Elizabeth (Wolf) Osterstock, was named an administratrix. The settlement of the estate was made March 17, 1774. The children at that time were: Leonard, above four- teen ; Henry, Mary, Thomas, John and Elizabeth.
(III) Thomas (2) Osterstock, born about 1770, died about 1814. He was assessed in Forks township in 1793, but does not appear in the list of 1786, nor is there will nor court record. His wife was Frederick, died at the age of ninety. Their children were: Henry, Jacob, Charles, a daughter, Mrs. Cramer; another daughter, Mrs. Raesner.
(IV) Charles Osterstock, born July, 1806, died February 3, 1851, lived in Forks township. He married Elizabeth Focht, born December 1I, 18II, died June 16, 1855. Both are buried in Easton Cemetery. They had children : William Gould, Joseph Swift, Theodore, Emily (Kaufman) and Elizabeth (Swift).
(V) William Gould Osterstock, born May 7, 1834, died December 8, 1866, lived in Easton, Pennsylvania, where he married Sophia Connelly, born April 9, 1840. He served through the entire Civil War as first sergeant, Fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was wounded at Petersburg, Vir- ginia, and died soon after the war as a result.
(V) Joseph Swift Osterstock, second son of Charles and Elizabeth (Focht) Osterstock, was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, February II, 1842, died in his native city, 1918. The house in which he was born stood at the foot of the steps leading to Lafayette College, the Chemical Publishing Com- pany's building now occupying the site. He had little opportunity for school attendance, but that little was well improved, and by self-study he became well informed. He began his long career in business as a boy clerk with T. B. Curtis, tinware and stoves, whose place of business was at the corner of Northampton and Sitgreaves streets, where he was a clerk for a number of years. He was appointed assistant postmaster of Easton under Postmaster James K. Dawes, his next business change being in 1872, when he succeeded Chidsey Brothers in the stove and housefurnishing business at No. 212 Northampton street. There he continued in business for thirty-seven years, until 1909, when he retired. He was an able business man, upright and pro- gressive, keeping up with the times and conducting his store along the best modern lines. He had an excellent memory, kept a concise record of events, and was an authority on local history.
As a soldier of the Union, Mr. Osterstock compiled an honorable record and rose to the rank of second lieutenant. He first enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served nine months, his full term of enlistment. During that period he was engaged at the battles of Second Bull Run, Antietam, Kearneysville, Fred- ericksburg and Chancellorsville. He enlisted a second time, immediately after the expiration of his first term, his next command being Company D, Twenty-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Emergency Regiment, Colonel Frick commanding the regiment, Capt. Joseph Oliver, the company. He became first sergeant of Company D, and as such was in a severe skirmish at Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, when the command, while resisting the inva- sion of the State by General Early, saved themselves by burning the bridge across the Susquehanna at Columbia. When his second term of service expired, Sergeant Osterstock again enlisted, his third command being with Company H, Two Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, attaining with that regiment a second lieutenant's commission. His
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captain was Edward Kelly, of Easton. Lieutenant Osterstock served with the Two Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged and returned to his home in Easton.
Lieutenant Osterstock was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Lafayette Post No. 217, Grand Army of the Republic, and for several years was an active member of the old Phoenix Fire Company, being its vice-president at the time that organization was disbanded, October 30, 1879. He was a leader of many of the large parades as chief marshal, and for many years he assisted in the alumni dinner at Lafayette College. He was elected a member of Easton's first Common Council, under the city charter of 1887, representing the First Ward. He took a seat in Council, April 4, 1887, and served until April 1, 1889. He mar- ried Sarah Sheatz, who died October 26, 1914, leaving a son, J. Frederick, whose career is herein traced.
(VI) J. Frederick Osterstock, son of Joseph Swift and Sarah (Sheatz) Osterstock, was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, May 21, 1884. He was edu- cated in the public schools of the city, prepared in Easton Academy, passing thence to Lafayette College, a member of the class of '1905. In college he was a leader in the musical circles. He was a member of Zeta Psi fraternity, and one of the well liked and popular men of his class. After graduation he located in Philadelphia, where for eighteen months he was associated with James B. Carson & Company, real estate operators, in their surveying and engineering 'department. The following two years he was engineer in charge of shop construction for the Pennsylvania railroad, then for three seasons was manager and musical director of a road theatrical company. At the expiration of his third season he returned to Easton to assume the manage- ment of the newly completed Orpheum Theatre, and in 1910 the Able Opera House was also placed under his capable direction as manager. He became well known as a successful manager, and in 1916 the Colonial was added to his list of theatres, he acting as the Easton manager of the Wilmer & Vin- cent incorporated interests.
In addition to the foregoing responsibilities, Mr. Osterstock has during that period of theatrical management served as temporary manager of the Wilmer & Vincent interests in their new theatres in Richmond, Virginia, and Allentown, Pennsylvania. He is undeniably successful as an entertain- ment purveyor, and to his own musical talent and love of the theatre, coupled with an adhered-to policy of furnishing to the theatre-going public only high class, clean productions, his unusual success must be attributed. He is a member of Easton Board of Trade, the Kiwanis Club, and the Northampton County Country Club, his politics, Republican, and his religious affiliation with Christ Lutheran Church.
JAMES E. HAUCK-Three generations of this family have been inti- mately connected with Easton's business-William Hauck, of the long ago; Thomas N. Hauck, whose career was cut short at the age of twenty-nine, a traveling salesman; and James E. Hauck, of the present day, a well known electrical contractor, grandfather, father, and son. James E. Hauck is a son of Thomas N. and a grandson of William and Mary C. Hauck. William Hauck was a foundryman and merchant of Easton in the long ago, and operated his foundry in West Easton until it was destroyed by fire, after which he became a provision merchant, dealing in smoked meats. He built up a large business, and as a merchant ranked high. He served as a member of Easton Borough Council, and took an active part in all public affairs. His wife, Mary, was a member of the Moravian church. They were the parents of three sons: Thomas N., James, and Cornelius, also of a daughter, Annie. Thomas N. Hauck was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, in 1856, and there died in 1885, his life just in its beginning. He was a commercial salesman,
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first with the Hay Boot and Shoe Company of Easton, and later with Bixler & Correll. He was a man of good business ability, made many friends, and was greatly admired and loyal. He married Jennie Kinsey, daughter of Alonzo William Kinsey, who was born at Newport, Monmouthshire, Eng- land, Tuesday, November 25, 1817. He died at Braddock, Pennsylvania, Friday evening, February 12, 1904. He married, January 19, 1841, Cecelia Cobb Jones, born at Denbigh, Denbighshire, North Wales, England, Febru- ary 17, 1824, died in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, June 29, 1864. On May 21, 1883, he contracted a second marriage with Mrs. Mary E. Dinkey, at Braddock, Pennsylvania. Alonzo W. Kinsey was the son of Josiah and Jane Kinsey. He was reared by his grandparents, William and Elizabeth Aston. Mr. Kinsey was the first chemist employed in the iron industry. This was at the Crane Iron Works, at Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, according to an article in the Iron Age of February 20, 1902. The article goes on to state that the time was so far back they could not give dates, but it was while Andrew Carnegie was working in Blackstack's factory, at $1.25 a week, also that Mr. Gayley, vice-president of the United States Steel Corporation, began his career as chemist for the Crane Iron Company as successor to Mr. Kinsey. Mr. Kinsey was also an inventor of ability, cannon and small arms his special field, although he had worked out a plan for a submarine boat. His second wife, Mrs. Dinkey, a widow, had a son, Alvin, later an important steel manufacturer, and one of her daughters became the wife of Charles Schwab, the great steel manufacturer. Mr. Schwab and Mr. Kinsey were often in consultation, the chemist being able to at times give the manu- facturer practical ideas which were found to be of value. Thomas N. and. Jennie (Kinsey) Hauck were the parents of a family of five children : Thomas, now with the Bethlehem Steel Company, in the artillery department; Harry, now with a shipbuilding company in North Carolina; James E., of further mention ; William, now assistant auditor of the Bethlehem Steel Company; Helen, died in infancy. Mrs. Jennie Kinsey Hauck survived her husband, and although young when left a widow with four sons, she used motherly love and tact, keeping her family together, giving them the advantage of a good education, now rejoicing in their success and prosperity, while they "rise up" and called her "blessed."
James E. Hauck was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, September 20, 1882, and until fourteen years of age attended the public schools of the city. He then started out to win the battle of life, and as a beginning spent one year with the Hay Boot & Shoe Company, a firm with which his father had been connected. He was a printer's "devil" for the next three months, then found his life work in the electrical business. He was sixteen years of age when he entered the employ of the Edison Illuminating Company, and after that company went out of business he was successively in the employ of A. W. Leidy, G. Elliott Hill and E. D. Webber, all engaged in some form of elec- trical work. During the years so passed, the boy had become a man, the novice an expert electrical worker with faith in himself and an ambition which resistlessly impelled him forward. In November, 1904, with a capital of less than one hundred dollars, he started in business for himself. From this small beginning has grown his present large electrical contracting and supply business, located on Bank street, Easton. Ten men are kept employed in electrical work exclusive of store and office force, and in his store a full line of supplies is carried, every need of the user of electricity being there met. He does not shrink from assuming any contract in his line no matter how large, and he has developed high standing among a desirable class of customers.
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