History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume III, Part 9

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 9


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


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Mr. Wise married Ada Mosser, daughter of Alfred W. and Catharine Mosser; and they are the parents of three children: Thelma, Naida, and Frank. The family home is at Bangor, Pennsylvania.


ORVILLE DEWEY AYERS-When a young man, just past his ma- jority, Orville D. Ayers entered the employ of Losey & Company, and


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although more than thirty years have since elapsed, the connection still exists. The firm has become the corporation, and the salesman of 1887 has since 1904 been its executive head. Loscy & Company, Incorporated, is one of the largest heavy hardware, machine and machine tools and mill sup- ply houses in the Easton section, and supplies an army of customers.


Mr. Ayers is a descendant of David Ayers, of Scotch descent, who owned a section of land near Richmond in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, which he cleared and upon which he built a house that was much finer and more modern than any other in that section. That house has never been owned outside the family, and so well was it built that it is yet used as a residence by a descendant of the builder. David Ayers also built and oper- ated a mill in these early days, and continued its operation as long as he lived, then was succeeded by his son, Moses Ayers, and he by his son, David (2) Ayers, he by his son, David (3) Ayers, and he by his son, David Brinton Ayers, owner and proprietor of the Belvidere Mills.


(I) David Ayers, the founder, was a devout Presbyterian, a justice of the peace for Lower Mt. Bethel township, and a man highly regarded for his sterling character and sound common sense. David Ayers had two sons, David and Moses, the former going West and Moses remaining at the farm in Mt. Bethel.


(II) Moses Ayers, son of David Ayers, inherited the homestead, operated the mill, and being a shrewd, practical man of business, prospered abund- antly, and was held in high regard. He was a devoted Presbyterian, like his father, and worthily filled his place in church and town. Moses Ayers married a Miss Britton, and they were the parents of five sons and four daughters: Levi, who went West; David (2), of further mention ; Nathaniel ; Moses, who inherited about one hundred acres of his grandfather's original farm; Rev. Samuel, a minister of the Presbyterian church; Jane, Betsey, Peggy and Sarah.


(III) David (2) Ayers, son of Moses Ayers, was born at the homestead about the year 1810, and always lived in that locality. He continued the old mill in commission, married, and passed his years in usefulness, being suc- ceeded by his son, Robert Britton, of further mention.


(IV) Robert Britton Ayers, son of David (2) Ayers, became a miller and mill owner, operating the Belvidere Mills in the days when Durham boats on the Delaware formed the chief means of freight transportation between the Forks of the Delaware and Philadelphia. He, in company with a Mr. Borton, built a section of the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern Railroad between Manunka Chunk and Delaware bridge, but after its completion returned to the milling business. He owned mills at Harmony and Carpenterville, New Jersey, and in the last named village was living at the time of his death. He married Louisa Bainbridge Pierson, daughter of Charles and Margaret (Cline) Pierson. They were the parents of two daughters, both deceased, and of two sons, Charles Pierson, who is of ex- tended mention in this work, and Orville Dewey, of further mention.


(V) Orville Dewey Ayers, youngest son of Robert Britton and Louisa Bainbridge (Pierson) Ayers, was born in Harmony, N. J., December 3, 1865. He obtained a public school education in the public schools of Carpenterville and Easton night school, finishing with a commercial course at Easton Business College. In 1887 he entered the employ of Losey & Company, dealers in heavy hardware, machinery and mill supplies, as a salesman, so continuing several years, and in the year 1900 the business was incorporated as Losey & Company, Mr. Ayers being chosen vice-president. He was elected president in 1904, and has since been the capable chief executive of the company. He is a member of the Easton Board of Trade, a member of lodge, chapter, council and commandery of the York Rite of Free Masonry, a Noble of Rajah Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, is also an


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Odd Fellow and an Elk, a member of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, an attendant of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics a Republican.


Mr. Ayers married, June 15, 1898, Anna A. Pearson, daughter of Birge and Anna M. (Weaver) Pearson, of Easton. Mrs. Ayers is active in civic and church affairs, and was one of the city's most active women workers in the various war activities. Mr. and Mrs. Ayers are the parents of a son, Donald Pearson, born March 2, 1904, a high school student, class of 1922.


Mr. Ayers is one of the substantial, progressive men of his city, deeply interested in civic and educational affairs. He has now served four years on Easton's Board of Education, member of the executive committee of buildings and grounds, and has given the closest attention to his duties. Fond of out-of-door recreations, hunting and fishing, he indulges his tastes at the preserves of the Maskenozha Fishing and Gun Club, of which he is a member.


ELVIN A. WOLFE-Elvin A. Wolfe, vice-president, in charge of the Penn-Allen Cement Company, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and one of the most prominent figures in industrial life of this region, is a native of the town of Coplay, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, where his birth occurred May 4, 1875. Mr. Wolfe is a son of Amos and Eliza (Leh) Wolfe, and is a member of one of the oldest pioneer families here. Mr. Wolfe's maternal grandfather was of Scotch-Irish ancestry and himself born in the North of Ireland, and he was one of the original emigrants from that part of the world that settled in Northampton county and his sons Amos, the father of the Mr. Wolfe of this sketch, and Jacob, and several other people became interested in coal mining here. The old homestead of the family came into the possession of one of the sons of Amos Wolfe, who, however, later dis- posed of it, so that it is no longer owned by the family.


Amos Wolfe, the father of Elvin A. Wolfe, was engaged in the opera- tion of farming and was also employed by the Coplay Iron Company at Coplay, where for years he held the position of foreman. His death oc- curred at that place at the age of sixty-four. He married Eliza Leh, a daughter of Abram Leh, who owned the site of the old Bonniwell Cement Company and for many years operated a grist mill there. Mrs. Amos Wolfe survives her husband and now resides at Nazareth, at the age of eighty-six years. Amos Wolfe and his wife were the parents of eight chil- dren, five of whom survive, as follows: James, who is now employed in a machine foundry at Allentown; Oscar, who is connected with the Bethlehem Steel Company at South Bethlehem; Hervey, who is employed as the gen- eral foreman of the Penn-Allen Cement Company plant at Nazareth; Alfred, who is the owner of a hotel and meat market at South Bethlehem ; and Elvin A., with whose career we are here especially concerned.


Elvin A. Wolfe obtained the elementary portion of his education at the Coplay public schools and was graduated from the high school there in 1891. . He then took a business course at a business school at Allentown, and after completing this, entered the office of Judge Harvey at Allentown, where he commenced reading law. Mr. Wolfe, however, soon came to the conclusion that he was more interested in the business and industrial life, and accordingly gave up the study of that profession and secured a position with the Coplay Cement Company and began work in that mill in the month of April, 1893. For five years he remained with the concern and then from 1898 to 1901 he was associated with the American Mill, which was owned by a company employed in the same work. From 1901 to 1907 he worked with the Whitehall Cement Mill at Cementon, and rose to a high position there. Although he had begun in a comparatively humble capacity, Mr. Wolfe had demonstrated his value to his employers from the outset, and had


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risen from the position of burner to that of foreman, then general foreman and finally assistant superintendent of the Whitehall plant. It was in 1907 that the Penn-Allen Cement Company offered him the post of superintendent in their large works at Nazareth, which he accepted at once, and he has remained associated with this concern ever since. At the death of Mr. Yeager, vice-president of the concern, Mr. Wolfe was chosen to succeed him and has continued in charge of the plant under that title. It has been due in a large measure to his grasp of practical affairs and his talents as an organizer that the company, during his management of it, has increased to double its former capacity and now employs about one hundred and ninety men in turning out its products. The mill has also been practically rebuilt and is now equipped entirely with an electric power plant, so that it is a completely modern and up-to-date establishment. The farm in connection with the cement plant is also operated by this company, which owns all the stock and employs an experienced overseer to superintend the work there. Mr. Wolfe is now justly regarded as one of the most capable business men in this community and enjoys the highest esteem and regard of all his fel- low-citizens who know him and admire him for the high standard of business ethics which he maintains in all his relations. In addition to his business activities, Mr. Wolfe is keenly and actively interested in the general life of Nazareth and is a particularly prominent figure in fraternal circles here. He is very conspicuous in the Masonic order and has taken the thirty-second degree in Free Masonry, and is a member of Chapman Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons ; Easton Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Easton Council, Royal and Select Masters; Hugh de Payen Commandery, Knights Templar ; the Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and Caldwell Consistory, Sovereign Princes of the Royal Secret. Mr. Wolfe is a Republican in politics, but is quite unambitious for political preferment of any kind.


Elvin A. Wolfe was united in marriage June 29, 1897, to Ella N. Spangler, a daughter of George and Rebecca (Shafer) Spangler, old and highly re- spected residents of Northampton county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe are the parents of two children: Arthur, born in 1902, and Royden, born in 1905.


RALPH R. PITTENGER-A graduate of a school of embalming, and with many years of experience as an undertaker to guide him, Mr. Pittenger has gained high reputation as a funeral director. Sympathetic and cour- teous, he fills a most difficult task with unfailing tact, and leaves a pleasant memory amid scenes of sorrow and grief. He is a son of Edward S. Pit- tenger, a lead-contractor and builder of recent days, grandson of Peter Pittenger, a farmer and grocer, and a great-grandson of Garrett and Eliza- beth (Terryberry) Pittenger, of New Jersey. Peter Pittenger was a farmer of Northampton county, and also a merchant, conducting a grocery store in Easton, where he died at the age of eighty-five years. He married Maria George and they were the parents of a large family: Edward S., of further mention ; Robert, of Bethlehem; Irwin, of Wilson township; Peter, of Wil- son township ; John, of Steubensville ; Thomas, of Easton ; Howard, deceased ; Annie, married Robert Eichlin, of Stewartsville, New Jersey; Clara, mar- ried John H. Sinclair, of Easton; and May, deceased.


Edward Stewart Pittenger, eldest son of Peter and Maria (George) Pit- tenger, was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1854, and died at his home, 1000 Washington street, September 10, 1918, after an illness of nine months. He was educated in the public schools of Easton, and later learned the builder's trade and became a contractor. He erected many residences and buildings in Easton and vicinity, and was one of the best known con- tractors and builders of the city. He was a prominent member of St. Mark's


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Reformed Church, and in Free Masonry was affiliated with Dallas Lodge, No. 396, Free and Accepted Masons; Easton Chapter, No. 173, Royal Arch Masons; Pomp Council, Royal and Select Masters; and Hugh de Payen Commandery, No. 19, Knights Templar. He was also a member of Lehicton Lodge, and of Valley Union Encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. Edward S. Pittenger married Matilda Riedy, daughter of Gabriel and Mary (Wertman) Riedy, and paternal granddaughter of Abraham and Cath- erine Reidy. Mary (Wertman) Reidy was a daughter of Jacob and Bar- bara (Andrews) Wertman. The Reidy family were early settlers of Heidel- berg, Pennsylvania, the Wertmans at Andries, Pennsylvania, both families principally engaged as agriculturists.


On both sides they were patriots, Mrs. Pittenger's great-grandfathers, Reidy and Wertman, both serving as soldiers in the Revolutionary Army. Mrs. Mary (Reidy) Pittenger survives her husband, and continues her residence at 1000 Washington street, where Mr. Pittenger had lived a retired life for some years. They are the parents of three sons: Ralph R., of further mention; Paul S., a graduate of Medico- Chirurgical Medical College, Philadelphia, and is now connected with the H. K. Mulford Company, of that city ; Dr. Paul S. Pittenger, married Lela Welch; Russell, formerly associated with his father in his building opera- tions, now connected with the Sun Shipbuilding Company, of Chester, Penn- sylvania, where he has charge of the department of interior. He married Marcella Garrison of Easton, and they are the parents of three children: Arleyne, Armand and Edgar.


Ralph R. Pittenger was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, June II, 1880, and has always made that city his home. He was educated in the public schools of the city, and in business college, entering business life shortly after completing his school years. He obtained his first experience with the Baker & Adamson Chemical Company of Easton, for eight years, con- tinuing in the employ of that company in a clerical capacity. He then formed an association with Zachariah Taylor, and under the firm name, Taylor & Pittenger, conducted an undertaking business in Easton for seven years. Upon the death of Mr. Taylor in 1912, Mr. Pittenger continued the business alone, locating at 54 North Third street, where he is thoroughly furnished in every detail for the modern business of funeral directing. He is a graduate of Renard School of Embalming, and is a member of the Penn- sylvania Association of Funeral Directors. Mr. Pittenger is also intimately connected with silk manufacturing, and was one of the organizers of the Roehlen & Pittenger Silk Company, now the Roehlen-Pittenger Silk Com- pany, Inc., silk manufacturers with plant on Packer street, South Easton. That company capitalized at $50,000 conducts a successful business, em- ploying about thirty-five hands. Mr. Pittenger is secretary-treasurer- of the company.


He is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church ; Dallas Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Easton Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Pomp Council, Royal and Select Masters; Hugh de Payen Commandery, Knights Templar ; Lehicton Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Washington Camp, Patriotic Sons of America ; the Pomfret and Kiwanis clubs.


Mr. Pittenger married, June 24, 1915, Ella Kortz Rambo, daughter of George G. and Anna (Kortz) Rambo, of Easton. Mr. and Mrs. Pittenger are the parents of a son, Edward Stewart (2) Pittenger.


GEORGE H. WELTY-George H. Welty, manager of the Nazareth Coal and Lumber Company, and one of the most prominent citizens of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, where he is identified with many of the most im- portant interests of the town, is a member of one of the oldest and most distinguished families in this region, which was founded here bv Philip Welty, who came originally from Switzerland and was one of the nine


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brothers, cmigrants to this country together with their mother about the time of the Revolutionary War. The Welty family settled in Center county, Pennsylvania, and from this place as a center scattered gradually to many other parts of the State, Philip finally becoming a permanent resident of Northampton county. Another branch of the family became large slate pro- ducers in Monroe county and later at Bradford county, finally retiring to Reading, Pennsylvania, where it is still represented. The descendants of various of these nine brothers are now found all through Western Penn- sylvania as well as in many other States, and many of them have distin- guished themselves in different lines of occupation. Philip Welty was finally identified with Bushkill township, Northampton county, and now lies buried in the cemetery at Salem Church in Moore township where many other members of the family, including George and John Welty, repose. These Weltys were respectively grandfather and father of the George H. Welty of this sketch. The former was born in Northampton county, and became a prominent man in the region. He erected the formerly well known iron works at Hockendauqua (now Catasauqua), which he operated with great success until his death at the age of sixty-two. His son, John Welty, was born in Northampton county, October 24, 1838, and died May 3, 1912, . in Moore township, where his life had been passed from about 1867. He married Mary A. Arner, and they were the parents of the following children : I. Emma; 2. Ellen, who became the wife of John P. Tatzinger, and died at Bethlehem at the age of fifty-two years. Her two sons recently served their nation in Company C, 316th Regiment of Infantry, stationed at Camp Meade, and Company, No. 4, of the 13th Training Battalion, also at Camp Meade. Their names are, respectively, Robert, who was captain of his company, and was shot through and through by a machine gun, and was ten weeks in a French hospital. Warren was gassed and possibly otherwise injured, and died in a hospital in France, October 5, 1918. 3. William, who is now engaged in business as a carpenter at Allentown. He married Benetta Jones, and their son was in the United States Service in France. 4. Mary, who became the wife of Paul Gapp, of Nazareth. 5. George H., with whose career we are here especially concerned. 6. Minnie, who is the twin of George H. and is now the wife of Harry Hall, a prosperous farmer of Moore township. The elder Mrs. Welty resides with this daughter. 7. Eva, who became the wife of H. E. Venter, of Nazareth.


George H. Welty was born May 29, 1877, at his father's home in North- ampton county. His early education was received at the local schools, and at the age of seventeen he entered the State Normal School at Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He supplemented his studies at the last named institution with a course at the Allentown Business College, at Allentown, where he prepared himself for a commercial life and immediately afterwards secured a position as clerk in the general office of the Lehigh Valley railroad, at South Bethlehem. He continued working at that place until 1902 when he came to Nazareth, resigned from his former position and secured work as bookkeeper for two concerns-Asa Wunderly, dealer in lumber and coal, and the R. G. & W. J. Wunderly Company, which operated a planing mill in this region for about four years. In the year 1906 Mr. Welty formed a partnership with Mr. Charles Wunderly and the two gentlemen purchased the business of Asa Wunderly which they have since conducted together. Under their management the concern has come to be known as the Nazareth Coal & Lumber Company, and Mr. Welty and Mr. Wunderly are joint pro- prietors, the former acting as general manager of the business. This enter- prise has met with a notable success, and Mr. Welty has, since his purchase of it, devoted his entire attention to its affairs. Mr. Welty is also keenly interested in farming in this region of the State and is the owner of a splendid property consisting of one hundred twenty-five acres of land known N. H. BIOG .- 23


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as the Conrad Kocher farm, at Bushkill township. He does not attempt to run this farm himself, however, but it is at the present time in charge of a tenant. Mr. Welty has been exceedingly active in public affairs, and has exhibited a most commendable spirit and energy in keeping the interest of the community at large. At the present time he is a member of the Bor- ough Council, representing the third ward on that body and is the chairman of the lighting committee. In the latter capacity he has done a work of great value to the community, the system of lighting at the present time being a new one which was installed under his direction and is far more adequate than anything that has preceded it. In politics Mr. Welty is a Democrat, and in religion he is a Lutheran, being a member of the official board of the church of that denomination at Nazareth.


George H. Welty was united in marriage on November 29, 1902, with Mary J. Hogan, a daughter of John and Sallie (Fehr) Hogan. Mr. Hogan was formerly a resident of Ireland and came to this country as a young man. He is remembered now in connection with the slate industry, mostl; at Bangor, where he died about twenty years ago, and was buried in Ver- mont.


MARCUS CHRISTMAN FETTER-Now that the boroughs of South Bethlehem, West Bethlehem and Bethlehem are incorporated into the city of Bethlehem, and have lost their municipal distinction, it is in order to recall the old days when the office of chief burgess was one of high distinc- tion, and the Borough Council a veritable Hall of Fame. West Bethlehem acquired distinctive borough government in 1888, and the first man elected to fill the office of chief burgess was Marcus C. Fetter, who held the office for three terms. The first chief executive of the borough has passed away, as has the office he held, but his memory is green in Bethlehem, where his life was principally passed. There he won high reputation as a man of clear judgment and fine business ability, a good friend and neighbor, a lov- ing and devoted husband. He was the last survivor of his immediate fam- ily, and when his useful life ended he was laid at rest in beautiful Nisky Hill Cemetery. He was of an ancient Moravian family, son of Herman Marcus Fetter, and grandson of Mark and Elizabeth (Harbach) Fetter, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.


Herman Marcus Fetter was born in Bethlehem, June 2, 1814, and died . March 29, 1876. After school days were over he learned the tinsmith's trade with C. L. Knauss, of Bethlehem, and later he established in business for himself at Hellertown, Pennsylvania. There he continued in business as a tinsmith, but later he bought the Hellertown Hotel and conducted both the hotel and his tinning business. Later he sold his tin shop and devoted him- self entirely to the management of the hotel. After selling out the Heller- town Hotel, he moved to South Bethlehem and for a time was in the lumber business with Boshek, Knauss & Company, going thence to Freemansburg, Pennsylvania, where he was proprietor of the Swan Hotel for three years. He again returned to old South Bethlehem and became proprietor of the hotel which was known for many years as the Fetter Hotel. For twenty- two years Mr. Fetter was a resident of old South Bethlehem, but in June, 1871, he retired from business. He was elected sheriff of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1862, receiving his commission November 12 of that year. In October, 1870, he was elected representative to the Pennsylvania Legisla- ture from Lehigh county. He had friends all over the State, and was held in high esteem wherever known. He was big-hearted and generous, genial and kindly, always ready and willing to relieve the needy at the first call. The following tribute appeared in an obituary notice :


In. C. Fetter


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Nor further seek his virtues to disclose, Or draw his frailties from their dread abode, There they alike in trembling hope repose, The bosom of his fathers and his God.


No man was better known in the State or county, and none could be more hospitable and courteous, more cordial in his welcome of a visitor. It was said of him that, "He always said the best he could of everybody."


Herman Marcus Fetter was a Moravian in religious faith, his father and mother being members of that faith, their marriage being contracted under the old Moravian custom of the elders of the congregation choosing by lot the young people who were to marry. He was a member of the Masonic order, an ardent Democrat, and a man of more than ordinary intel- ligence and character. He married, September 3, 1839, Rev. Mr. Herman of the Moravian church officiating, Christianna Christman, of Lower Saucon township, and they were the parents of ten children, Marcus Christman, the eldest.


Marcus Christman Fetter was born at Hellertown, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1841, and died at his home, Second street and Pros- pect avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, May 1, 1914. He was educated in the Moravian Parochial School, and after completing his English studies entered Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, pursuing the course to a fin- ish and being among the first graduates from that institution, now so well known and highly regarded. After becoming a registered pharmacist, he entered the employ of Charles E. Eggert, of Philadelphia, and continued a clerk in his employ for a period of eight years, including his time at the College of Pharmacy, which had been devoted to the drug business. At the death of his father, he withdrew from the business and succeeded to the ownership and management of the Fetter House in South Bethlehem, re- placing the old building in 1890 with a modern three-story hotel building erected on the site of the old one, Main street and Lehigh avenue. In 1887 Mr. Fetter became executive and general manager of the George Uhl estate, a post he filled with great ability until his death in 1914. In 1888 he was elected the first burgess of West Bethlehem, and for three terms he admin- istered the affairs of the borough with fidelity and zeal. Like his father he was an ardent Democrat, but he never aspired to political office outside the local positions his friends were more anxious to give him than he was to accept. He took a deep interest in local affairs, and was one of the men whose progressiveness and public spirit placed the Bethlehems in the position they today occupy. He was a member of Bethlehem Lodge No. 283, Free and Accepted Masons; Zinzendorf Chapter No. 216, Royal Arch Masons, and Hugh de Payen Commandery, Knights Templar, the latter an Easton body. He was a member of the advisory board of Bethlehem Trust Company, and in his religious connection a Moravian.




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