History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1, Part 36

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904; Hungerford, Austin N., joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Richards
Number of Pages: 948

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 36
USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 36

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).

The estimated value of property in the fire depart- ment is as follows :

Good Will ..

$12,862.00

Columbia

20,522.00

Liberty

11,235.50

Allen ....

10,805.30

Hibernia.

4,-101.00

America ..

6,528,00

Rescue

200.00

Total $66,649.80

This does not include horses, harness, nor some of the furnishings of the several houses, as they are owned by the companies.

CHAPTER XVIII

THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN-(Continued). -

Commercial Matters-Mercantile Beginnings-Banking-Manufactur- ing-The Press.

prior to 1795, and continued at least until 1814 (when the building was oeeupied by the Northampton Bank ), and probably later, at another location. George Graff was a contemporary of Snyder's, and kept store in a small red building on the south side of Hamilton Street, east of Eighth. The most prominent merchant

Jacob and Daniel Saeger opened a store for the hand- ling of general merchandise in 1815, opposite the Ger- man Reformed Church, on Hamilton Street. They also built the brick block at the sontheast corner of Hain- i ilton and Sixth Streets, which they sold to David R. King & Co. This firm did a very large business, but in 1822 sold out to Godfrey and Christian Pretz, by whom the store was prosperously carried on until the death of Godfrey Pretz. The business was then con- dueted by Pretz, Saeger & Co., Pretz, Kern & Co., and Pretz, Guth & Co. until 1859, when Christian Pretz retired. Then the firm became H. Guth & Co., by whom the business was carried on until recently, when it passed into the hands of Weinsheimer & Newhard, who can claim successorship of the oldest mercantile house in the city. The oldest house exist- ing as originally constituted, is that of A. G. Reninger & Co. (in which the company is Ephraim Grim). The firm has passed through a number of changes. Messrs. Grim & Reninger formed a partnership in 1843 and conducted business without any change in the style of the firm until 1858, when it became Grim, Reninger & Co. In 1862 it was altered to Reninger & Shimer, and in 1866 to E. S. Shimer & Co. In 1876 it became Shimer, Reninger & Co., and in 1879 was changed to its present style, the old partners again being united.

Mercantile Beginnings .- Turning back to the be- ginning of the century, we will present some facts concerning the carly merchants of Allentown, the In 1838 the storekeepers of the town dealing in follows: John Wilson, Saeger, Keek & Co., Selfridge & Wilson, Peter Hoffman, l'eter Newhard, Peter Huber, Peter Biery, Charles A. Ruhe, Joseph Weiss, John Mall, Jacob D. Boas, Charles Massey, Andrew Klotz, Samuel V. R. Hunter, Jacob Schlangh, Alex- first shop-keepers having already been mentioned in | foreign merchandise were twenty-three in number, as the preceding chapter. The pioneer among those whose places of business rose to the dignity of being called stores was, so far as record or tradition shows, l'eter Snyder, who kept a miscellaneous stock of goods in a sinall building where the Allentown National Bank now is. He began business some time ! ander Blumer & Co., John Wilson, Edwin W. Hutter,

142

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

George Stein, Pretz, Saeger & Co., Boas & Stein, John B. Moser.

In this connection a sketch of the late Christian Pretz is eminently proper. It is recorded in the book of " Heraldry," found in the public library of Vienna, that the family of Pretz, or Bretz as formerly written, had its origin at Trier, on the Lower Rhine, where Fabius Bretius, a Roman general of cavalry, located about 224 A.D., having been a native of Capua, in Lower Italy. He married Olfa, daughter of a Ger- man duke, and died 263 A.D. In the line of deseent was Daniel Bretz, who died in the year 1681, leaving two sons, Felix and Christof, one of whom is the an- cestor of John Philip Pretz, born in Windesheim, near Creutnach, on the Rhine, in 1755, who emigrated to America and died in 1801 in Lancaster, Pa., where he is buried. He married Maria Margaret Saeger, and had six children, three of whom-Anna Margaret, Godfrey, and Christian-reached mature years. The latter was born in Heidelberg township, Northampton, now Lehigh County, April 29, 1801. Having lost his father when a but a few months okl, and been de- prived of a mother's care soon after, he found a home with an unele, Nicholas Saeger, of Whitehall town- ship, with whom he resided until after he had at- tained his majority. Desiring to acquire a knowledge of the English language, he pursued his studies at Easton, Pa., Morristown, N. J., and later in Philadel- phia, after which he became a merchant's clerk in the latter city. Ile then removed to Mauch Chunk, as an employé of the firm of Messrs. White, Hauto & Hazard, pioneers in the coal interests of the vicinity, who afterward merged their firm and business into the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. In 1820, Mr. Pretz removed to Allentown, and, in connection with his brother, two years later purchased the store of David R. King & Co., and became a country trades- man. The firm having been dissolved by the death of this brother in 1831, he with other partners con- tinued the business till 1859. Mr. Pretz was in 1831 married to Miss Abigail, daughter of Jacob Saeger, of Allentown. Their children are Philip S., Alfred C., Henry J., William N., John C., Christianna MI. (wife of Rev. B. M. Schmucker, D.D.), and three who died in early life. Mr. Pretz, after a lengthened period of industry, in 1859 retired from active busi- ness, and devoted his energies to buildling and the development of real estate which he owned, as also to milling enterprises in which he had meanwhile be- come interested.

He has been one of the most important factors in the growth of Allentown and the advancement of its commercial interests, few enterprises of any moment having been inaugurated without his aid and encour- agement. He has been instrumental in the erection of two planing-mills and a stocking-factory, and has also been a stockholder in various iron-manufacturing establishments in the city. He has been for several years a director of the Allentown National Bank.

Mr. Pretz was among the first to develop the educa- tional interests of the city, having, together with Henry Weinsheimer, erected the principal buildings now embraced in the Muhlenberg College property. He was in his political predilections a Republican, having been in early days an old line Whig. As a representative of the Anti-Masonie party, he was elected and served during the winters of 1831-32 in the State Legislature. Other minor offices, such as school director, member of the City Council, etc., have also been filled by him. Mr. Pretz was a member, and one of the organizers, of St. John's English Lu- theran Church, which, with two exceptions, was the first church of that denomination organized in the State. Mr. Pretz died Feb. 28, 1884.

Other prominent merchants than those we have mentioned, with the approximate dates of their act- ing, were Britannia Barnes, 1820 to 1830; Peter Ilu- ber (grain, etc.), 1830 to 1848 : Rupp & Shifferstein, 1830 to 1840; Benjamin Ludwig (leather), 1830 to 1860; John J. Krause (lumber), 1840 to 1850; Peter Hoffinan & Son, 1840 to 1870; Weaver & Trexler, 1840 to 1870; E. W. Hutter (books), 1830 to 1840; Blumer & Leisenring (books), 1840 to 1855; --- Duncan, 1840 to 1845; Barber & Young ( hardware), 1840 to 1850; William G. Ritter (stoves and tinware), 1840 to 1865; Thomas Ginkinger (stoves and tin- ware), from 1845; William Bush (stoves, etc.), 1850 to 1870; Dr. Danowsky (drugs), 1840 to 1850 ; Klump & Weaver (drugs), 1840 to 1870; Saeger & Kock (store and mill), 1840 to 1865; Charles A. Ruhe, from 1840 ; Ilenry Schnurman & Co., from 1850 to present ; Mosser & Son (tanners), from 1850.

Most of the men now prominent in the mercantile business, as W. R. Lawfer & Co., M. J. Kramer & Co., A. M. Springer & Co., Bittner, Hunsicker Brothers, Guth & Kern, HI. Lch & Co., John Bowen & Co., Johnston & Schwartz, A. J. Kleppinger (pro- prietors of the Globe Store), and F. Hersh & Son, are comparatively new candidates for the patronage of the public, having established themselves, as a rule, in the last ten to fifteen years. There are a few, however, like M. S. Young, A. G. Reninger, Ephraim Grim, and Jonathan Reichard, who have been in business here for long terms of years.

The Post-Office .- The Allentown post-office was not established until 1802, prior to which time the few inhabitants of the village were obliged to get their mail matter at Bethlehem. George Savitz was the first postmaster, and as he was "mine host" of the tavern which has been developed into the Allen House, it is altogether probable that the office was kept there. Ile retained the position until April, 1808, when Dr. Jacob Martin was appointed his successor and entered upon the duties of the office. Since his time to the present the following persons have had appointments as here indjeated : Charles L. Hutter, May 4, 1814; George Hlauke, Nov. 22, 1820; Henry Weaver, Feb. 10, 1824; Edwin W. Hutter, Jan. 1,

حـ ..

6. Pretz

143

THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN.

1836; Robert E. Wright, July 13, 1836; Augustus L. Ruhe, June 9, 1841; Robert E. Wright, Sept. 24, 1844; Edmund R. Newhard, Nov. 17, 1845; Maria E. Hornbeck, Feb. 26, 1849; Tilghman Good ( Pres. and Senate), March 6, 1862, reappointed (P. and S.) July 26, 1866 ; David K. Diefenderfer (P. and S.), April 16, 1869, reappointed (P. and S.) March 18, 1873; Robert Iredell, Jr. (P. and S.), Jan. 8, 1877, reappointed (P. and S.) Mareh 22, 1881.

Early Taverns and Later-Day Hotels .- The first tavern-keeper in Allentown of whom there is any reeord was George Wolf, who was licensed in 1764. In the same year David Deshler kept a beer-shop, and there were thus two places where "the droughty neebors" might " neebors meet." The next year Frederick Shachler was also assessed as a tavern- keeper, and the only doctor in the settlement. Gott- fried Bolzius had taken Deshler's beer-shop. In 1773, Henry Hagenbuch appears to have been first licensed. He was the first of a long line of tavern-keepers of the same family name who made the Cross Keys stand famous, and of whom we shall speak at greater length. In 1776 there where five taverns kept in the village besides Hagenbueh's, the hosts being Nicholas Fuchs, Michael Klechner, Michael Schroeder, George Weiss, and Philip Klotz.

Taverns were then assessed at from six to ten dollars. In 1871, Bartholomew Hettel was licensed as an inn- keeper, and kept on the southwest corner of Hamil- ton and Eighth Streets,-the same property which was owned in 1812 by Elizabeth Kauffinan. In 1782 the inn-keepers were Nicholas Fox, Henry Gross, Widow Krumback, Andrew Reel, George Weiss, Ilittel, and Hagenbuch. Of these, Fox, Gross, and Hagenbueh were keeping public-houses in 1786. George Weiss died that year. The new names added to the list were those of George Miller and Charles Deshler. The house kept by Deshler was a small building on Water Street, near Lawrenee, which was kept after Deshler's term as landlord by Casper Klech- ner, Frederick Kocher, Thomas Totten, Gideon Fusel- man, and, others, under the sign of " The Golden Laub." " Tommy" Totten served a second time as the host of this old tavern, and after he vacated the house, about 1830, it was occupied as a private dwell- ing.

In 1815 the holders of tavern licenses were John F. Ruhe, Casper Klechner, Abraham Gangwere, George Savitz, Abraham Rinker, Jr., John Miller, and George Rhoads. George Savitz was probably the first landlord at the Allen House stand. The original house was a small two-story stone structure, and was built by John Fetter about the beginning of the century. Savitz soon became its landlord, and kept the house in 1811 when the first borough election was held, and in the following year when the first court was held there. He was succeeded by Daniel Kramer in 1818, and after Kramer came a long suc- cession of landlords, of whom the principal ones

were George Haberacker, Charles Seagreaves, the widow of Daniel Kramer (who married Samuel Gum- pert, also one of the keepers of the house), David Heller, Reuben Moyer, Charles Ihrie, David Stem, William Craig, David Keifer, Reed & Yohe, J. F. Newhard, Robert D. & W. C. P. Kramer ( 1869-77). W. C. P. Kramer alone (1877-78), and Col. T. H. Good, the present proprietor.

The American House was originally a two-story frame house, and was built by Abraham Gangwere before the village was organized as a borough. The early landlords were Jacob Stem, Charles Craig, John Gross, Charles Seagreaves, and Jonathan Kolb. Sea- greaves was the owner of the house for a long period, and appears to have been carrying it on himself in 1837, when he advertised that the well-known house opposite Pretz, Saeger & Co.'s store had been repaired, and afforded every convenience for the accommoda- tion of citizens and travelers. It was then known as "The Northampton Inn." Mr. Seagreaves made the chief improvements and enlargements, extending the front and adding two stories to its height, and build- ing the large brick addition on Sixth Street. For- merly the house was adjoined on the east by an alley, but that space was inclosed with walls and absorbed into the hotel. The later-day landlords of the Amer- can have been John Y. Bechtel, who kept the house sixteen years; Col. T. H. Good, now of the Allen House; Tilghman W. and W. P. C. Kramer (1867-69) ; J. F. Newhard, who has carried it on very success- fully from 1870 until April, 1884, when II. A. Hay- den, formerly of the United States Hotel, Easton, took possession. He bids fair to "greet the coming and speed the parting guest" for many years.

The tavern or hotel which enjoyed the greatest patronage at an early day was Hagenbach's. The original house was a stone one, which gave way to the larger one of brick known as " The Cross Keys." This house, which has been mentioned as one of the ear- liest taverns, was first kept by Henry Hagenbuch as carly as 1773. Jacob Hagenbuch succeeded him, and was himself followed by his son of the same name. Afterwards the house was kept for many years by his sons, Benjamin . and Charles, and since 1872 it has been owned by Reuben Gernet. This house had for many years almost a monopoly of the farmers' trade, and was exceedingly popular.

Many of the so-called taverus of early times were patronized by travelers and the country people very sparingly, and were of no note or importance except as drinking-houses. Some were, however, eminently respectable places, and relied for support about equally upon the visits of the "wayfarer and the stranger" and the attendance of the convivially inclined. From fifty to seventy years ago there were more taverns than there are now hotels. As early as 1810, George Rhoads kept a small frame house where the Penn- sylvania Hotel now stands. It was kept by John F. Ruhe about 1826, and by various landlords after that

144

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

time down to 1845, when the Pennsylvania House was built by Adam Miller. This house has been kept by Thomas Ginkinger, Henry Lieb, Ephraim Yohe, Capt. Hart, Samuel Henry, Moses Guth, Hor- ace Gangwere, Tigher & Henning, and John Cole. The building was then occupied as a grocery-store for eight years, and in 1879 was reopened as a hotel by the present proprietors, Bitner & Hartman.

The Lafayette stand was originally known as "The Black Horse." The first tavern building was ereeted by John Mull, before the time the borough was in- eorporated and became the county-seat. It was kept in the thirties by Daniel Moyer (tailor) and Aaron Shifterstein.

"The Rainbow" was one of the most notable of the old-time taverns. It stood upon the southwest eorner of Seventh and Linden Streets, and was built by one Fuehs about the year 1800. It was a log building, small, but a popular resort. Capt. John F. Ruhe kept " The Rainbow" both before and after his tour of duty in the war of 1812. Among the other land- lords were Jacob Mickley, Michael Schneider, Abra- ham Beidelman, Abraham Gangwere (1838), Henry Lieb, Michael Rice, and Reuben Moyer.

"The Hornets' Nest" was a popular resort for poli- ticians carly in the century, when it was kept by John Miller and John Weil, the latter of whom, some time in the twenties, drew a twenty thousand dollar lottery prize, which he soon spent. This house, which stood on the northeast corner of Seventh and Walnut Streets, was probably built before the year 1800, but was not oeeupied for tavern purposes until a dozen or more years had elapsed.

What is now the Mansion House on Union Street, at the foot of Seventh, was one of the old-time taverns, and was known as " The Spread Eagle." It was kept from about 1815 to 1825 by two brothers named Der- heimer, and afterwards was a part of the Seagreaves estate.

There was another well-known tavern on Seventh Street, where Nudings' brewery now is, kept as early as 1812 by Henry Gross, and still another on the south- West corner of Fifth and Linden Streets, built shortly after 1811.

The oldest tavern east of the Jordan was the Lum- berman's House, built about 1817 by Caspar Kleck- ner, and kept by him for many years. The old stone house is still standing near the western end of the Lehigh bridge. In 1833, Kleckner built the hotel now known as the Lehigh House, which he kept until 1841, when his son-in-law, John G. Schimpf, took possession of it, and remained as landlord until 1858. Following him there were two or three other landlords, who remained for short terms, and in 1862 the house was sold to James Allen Trexler, whose son, H. A. Trexler, is the present proprietor.

The house now occupied by Hon. John D. Stiles was for many years a hotel, and quite a popular one, especially among the resident and visiting lawyers.

It was built by John Evans, Esq., for a private resi- denee soon after he came here and was admitted to the bar, in 1819. His death oeeurred within two or three years, and then the house was made a hotel, and so occupied until 1855. It was called the Eagle, and its landlord was George Haberacker. In 1855 it passed into the hands of Henry King, and in 1865 became the property of John D. Stiles, who has since then occupied it as a dwelling.

Among the public-houses of a later period than most of those we have spoken of was the "Bull's Head," on Linden Street, nearly opposite the site of the jail, built about 1829 by John Raser. It was kept in 1837 by William Rinker, and in 1840 by Michael Rice. This house was a great drinking and gambling place, and noted for its coek-fights and entertainments of like nature, as we have already intimated many of the old taverns were.

About 1833, John F. Ruhe kept hotel in the build- ing which in recent years, having been enlarged, is known as the Third Ward school-house. In the same house, in 1843, D. II. Washburn opened a tem- perance hotel, advertising in the papers that "his object is to furnish a comfortable house for strangers, travelers, and boarders, where they need not be dis- gusted with the fumes of any intoxicating beverages."

The present Eagle Hotel occupies ground on which, before the great fire of 1848, was another and smaller one, known by the same name. Both were built by Jesse Grim, the first in 1832. Its landlords were Christian Kopp, Jacob H. Ritter, Reuben Strauss, Tilghman Good, George Wetherbold, and James Trexler. The fire which destroyed the building, and of which an account is given elsewhere, occurred while the last-mentioned gentleman was landlord. Mr. Grim built in 1848-49 the present Eagle House, one of the best hotels in the eity. Eli Steckel beeame the first landlord of the new house, and was succeeded by James Eshbach. The other keepers of the house have been Thomas Lichtenwalner, Henry Baughmau, Moses Schneck, Valentine Weaver, Sieger & Weaver, Sieger & Ilottenstein, Levi Hottenstein alone, and then the present proprietors, Hottenstein & Sons.

The Kramer Honse, on Seventh Street, was built in 1871 by William Yohn, who kept it for a short time, and was followed by a succession of landlords, none of whom remained long in the business. In 1879 it was taken by the present enterprising pro- prietor, W. P. C. Kramer, who had had a long expe- rience as landlord in the American Hotel and Allen House, as well as at the Fountain House. He changed the name of the hotel from the Centennial to the Kramer House.

In addition to the hotels of the city relying upon the traveling publie for their support is the Fountain House at Worman's Spring, or the Crystal Spring, from which the city draws its ample supply of pure water. Conrad Worman, in 1782, was assessed a tax upon two hundred aeres of land, which, presumably,

145

THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN.

was the traet containing the beautiful spring. Abra- ham Worman, his son, had his dwelling-house near the spring in 1789. In May, 1821, he was lieensed to keep tavern, and was still in the business in 1831. In 1847 the house at the spring was kept by Edwin Keiper. The present hotel, known as the Mansion House, was built in 1867 by James Crader and Peter Burns. It passed successively into the hands of the lien-holders,-John Hoffman and Mrs. J. Weimer; was kept in 1872, '73, '74, 75 by Robert P. & W. P. C. Kramer, and then passed into the possession of its present proprietor, Samuel Adams. The Mansion House is a well-appointed hotel, forty by one hun- dred and thirty feet, and three stories in height, and in summer is well patronized by city people, drawn thither by the charm of the great transparent spring pool and the scenery in its vicinity. Stephen Huffort has had charge of the spring and pool for the past twenty years, renting the latter from the Allentown Water Company, and has kept the great crystal basin and its surroundings in very attractive con- dition.

Banking Institutions-The Northampton Bank. -The first financial institution of Allentown, the Northampton Bank, produced a marked effect upon the community by reason of its disastrous failure after nearly thirty years of successful and heavy business. This bank was chartered by act of the Legislature, July 11, 1814, and an election of directors followed on August 12th, with the choice of the following gentlemen, viz .: Peter Dorney, Esq., John Wagner, Jacob Blumer, William Eckert, Jacob Stein, George Schaeffer, Andreas Strasburger, John Krause, Peter Rhoads, Jr., Peter Ruch, Stephen Balliet, Jr., and George Keck. Peter Rhoads, Jr., was elected presi- dent, and James A. Linton cashier. The Northamp- ton Bank began business almost immediately after its organization, with a capital of one hundred and twenty- three thousand three hundred and seventy-five dollars. The building in which it was opened, and, for that matter, remained during its entire existence, was a small two-story stone structure, which stood where the Allentown National Bank now is, and which, prior to 1814, had been occupied by Peter Snyder, who kept a store there. The affairs of the bank were prosperous and nneventful until near the last. John Eckert, Sr., succeeded Peter Rhoads as president, and was the holder of that office when he died, in No- vember, 1840. John Rice succeeded Eckert. He had formerly been eashier as the successor of Linton, and when he vacated the latter office it was taken by George Keck. The failure of the bank was brought on by the bad management of John Rice, who was speculative and visionary, and became largely inter- ested in outside business projects, -- the Imber trade, management of lines of mail stages, ete. Large ad- vances had been made, too, to the Lehigh Navigation and Coal Company, and to other corporations and individuals. The credit of the bank began to fail in

1842. Strenuous efforts were made to sustain the institution. At a special meeting of the board of directors, held March 23, 1843, among other matters, it was resolved that the bank be closed until the 25th of April, to make arrangements in the meanwhile to secure, so far as practicable, the interest of note- holders, depositors, and the stockholders, and prepare a report to the stockholders. Only a few days prior to this time the following statement had been made of the affairs of the bank.

The statement of the Northampton Bank for March 13, 1843, was as follows :

Dr.

Capital stock $124,635.00

Notes in circulation. 95,040,00

Contingent fund, 13,576 40

Profit and loss

1,760,20

Discount and interest

615 31

Dividends mpaid

7,054.50

Amonut dne other banks.

2,800,00

Amount due depositors

74,698 05

A special deposit.

10,001 65

Post-note ..

290.00

Loans.

101,900.00

$185,424.14

Ci.

Bills and notes discounted .. $152,752.30

Judgments and mortgage loans

171,200.00

Stock in Pennsylvania institutions,

19,621.00

Real estate .....

4,000.00

Expenses ....

1,021.71

Amount due by other banks.

2,579.20

Amount of loans to the State ...

12,705,25

Acceptances ...

39,258.4 L

City drafts in favor of bank

2-1,550.00

Specie and drafts,

7,330,24

$135,421.14

The cireulation of the bank averaged during a period of ten years $350,000. The circulation stood-

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History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1, Part 36

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904; Hungerford, Austin N., joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Richards Number of Pages: 948

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904; Hungerford, Austin N., joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Richards
Number of Pages: 948