USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 41
USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 41
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tion $5,000
Stranb & Barrar ....
100
W. W. Kurtz ..
4,000 : W. K. Rnhe ...
Coplay Cement Company .... 1,700
11. M. Lch
200
Milton M. Kline.
100
Leisenring, Trexler & Co .... 1,500
J. W. Leith
100
Moser & Keck
1,400
Mrs. M. A. G. Guldin ... Joshua Stahler.
100
A. M. Springer & Co ..
700
Joshua Schuurman
100
A. G. Reninger & Co ..
W. L. Blackman.
100
A. G. Reninger.
500
Philip E. - Ball.
1,800 500
Col. T. H. Good ...
1,400
Jacob G. Deshler.
700
W. R. Lawier & Co ..
800
Charles Detweiler
600
W. R. Lawfer
500
Christian Hohl
700
F. Hersh & Sons.
:00
Marens C. L. Kline.
200
Win. G. Ritter.
500 - 11. C. Trexler,
7.50
John Bowen & Co ..
700
3. 1'. Barnes,
Walter P. Huber
600
L. D. Kranse
500
W. II. Barber
200
Bittner & Inusicker Bros ...
500
11. H. Fisher
1,200
Schuurman, Roth & Co.
700
Connol Pfaff
Otto Meyer.
250
Ruhe Bros.
1,500
Koch & shank weiler
100
1. S. Biery
11. K. Hartzel 1,000
W. Grossman
200
E. G. Martin ..
1,200
I. P. Hecker.
250
Andrew S. Keck
700
Wm. I. Ilecker. 100
100
Johnston & Swartz
700
Thomas W Suyder
10,100
M. S. Young & Co.
500
Alfred 1. Martin
450 William Saeger.
1,200
Peter Schultz ..
300 Edward Rnho.
600
John E. heutz & Co
800
C. J. Erdman
W'm. Roth ..
300 John Hiery
Henry T Kleckner
Jacob Grimm
Wrinsbeimr & Newhard ...
300
Frederick Eberhard.
200
S. & 1 .. J. Helfrich
300 M. K. Martin
200
Guth & Kern.
200 lili J. Saeger.
200
Oscar Meyer
200 Thomas W. Saeger
200
Angust Weber
250 P. S. Wertz.
200
Renben Staller
200
Hofford Bros
Samuel Lowis
900)
R. I. Kramımı.
:00
William B. Schuther
150
R. J. Danowsky
150
Wilham A. Roney.
150
150 John W. Ochy.
100
W'in. Berkemeyer,
150
S. M. Koiper
100
Abner II. Wint ...
100 Ilevry Bitting ...
150
L. A. T. Wortman & Son
150 James Wise ...
1.50
Abrm. S. Grim
Henry Schock
B. F. Hagenbuch.
Sterner & Kress
100
Charles W. Copper.
1,200
A. J. Kleppinger. Tilgh. Sehalt
250
Thomas Johnston ..
200
Joseph Minnich
100 Esnias Rehrig
100
Rynu Holben.
200
II. K. Kmitz ....
300
B. Jarrett.
150
A. I. Breinig & T. G. Helf- rich ....
100
lolm Rupp.
John R. Schall
250 S. A. Bridges
500
1
300 Biltner & Hartman
100
100 Hlemy Burkhard.
100
100 C. Frank Haines ...
1,000
200
Joseph Lieberman.
500
Robert Stickhouse, 300
1. O. Sny lot ..
100
Solomon Boyer
Alfred G. Saeger.
1,200
11. Nadig & Bro.
600
T. H. Boyer
Thomas Steckel.
1,200
James B. Smith. 100
l'eter Seibert.
Desliler Bros.
100
'I'. B. Metzger
1,300
Zellner Bros.
Cole & Dheilman
Shimer & Lanb.
600
Frank B. Fogel.
Yeager & Culbertson .. 100
August Weidner
100
Feldinan & Schuurman 600
W. R. Steckel
1,000
Valentine Hoffman
J. h. Farr & Co ....
1,000
D. 11. Wannemaker.
1,300
Jeremiah Roth
M. L. Kauffman ..
R. E. Wright & Son
1,100
D. J. K. Deshler
100
11. A. Stillwagen ..
800
A. F. Poters. 1,000
Robert Iredell, Jr .. Keller & Bro.
200 / Thomas T. Martin.
2(M)
Charles D. Martin
150
Hersh & Bro.
John Bowen
S. B. Anewalt
Edward Harvey
163
THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN.
Samuel A. Butz ..
$500 J. HI. Berger. $50
Fegeley & Bro. 500 ! Knanss & Grammes 50
Joseph Young.
200 | Sammel Diehl
200
Barber, Keyser & Co ....
200 | Deifer & Bto ..
200
John E. Lent
100 William Weightman 1,000
William H. Weinshimer
100 Lewis Klump 100
The handsome brick structure erected through the enterprise of the citizens of Allentown is four stories in height, with a basement, and its dimensions are two hundred and fifty by fifty feet, with an extension on the west side. The Phoenix Manufacturing Com- pany of Paterson, N. J., put into this building in the fall of 1881 over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of machinery. The works were form- ally dedicated and opened Nov. 17, 1881, on which oeeasion speeches were made, a fine collation served, and the evening devoted to a social reception. These mills, which were named the Adelaide in honor of the wife of Albert Tilt, president of the Plueenix Manufacturing Company, employ from four to five hundred hands, chiefly boys and girls, and their annual output is very large. The first, second, and third floors are devoted to the spinning of silk, and the fourth to weaving. The manufacture of ribbons will probably be commeneed in the near future.
Woolen Manufactures .- One of the heaviest in- dustries of the city, but a comparatively new one, except at one house, is the manufacture of woolen goods. The first enterprise in this line was estab- lished here in 1850 by Henry Gabriel, who had, however, begun in the same business in Macungie as early as 1839. His present mill, from which seamless hosiery, coverlets, quilts, and yarns, both in woolen and cotton, are turned out in large quantities, is a three-story brick building, twenty by one hun- dred and fifty feet, at the foot of Water Street. Both steam- and water power are used, and in the various departments about fifty employés are busied. The value of the goods manufactured amounts to about twenty-five thousand dollars per year.
The establishment of Shimer, Pretz & Co., on Third Street, unlike that just described, is devoted entirely to the manufacture of woolen goods. Chris- tian Pretz ereeted the building in 1872, and it was immediately occupied by the present firm, which is composed of James O. Shimer, Henry and John Pretz. For three years they made eassimeres, but in 1875 they began to manufacture stockings, which, in great variety, now form their principal production, although they have recently entered upon the manu- facture of Jersey cloths. The mill is run by steam- and water-power, contains the most approved ma- chinery, and employs about one hundred and forty hands.
In 1878, Bittner, Hunsicker Brothers began the manufacture of seamless hosiery and knit goods in the same building in which their store is located on Hamilton Street, and have since carried it on quite extensively. Their market is found in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.
.
The most recently established house in this line is
that of Jaeob T. Shimer, at Sixth and Walnut Streets. This factory was started in April, 1880. The build- ing is twenty-two by sixty feet, and three stories high. More than forty knitting-machines are in operation, and about sixty employés, most of them experienced female operatives, are kept busy in the production of seamless and eut hosiery. The greater part of the goods from this establishment are shipped direct to New York and Chicago.
Boots and Shoes .- The manufacture of boots and shoes ranks among the most important of the city in capital invested and in the number of persons to whom it gives employment. The oldest house en- gaged in this department of industry, and one of the largest, is that of H. Lch & Co., Hamilton Street. When it was established in 1850 the firm-name stood as at present, and it has remained unchanged through the period of thirty-three years, although there have been several changes in the proprietorship. Mr. Leh, however, has always retained his interest. His present partner is II. B. Koch. The firm occupies the three upper stories of a large four-story building on Hamil- ton Street, with a front of seventy-five feet and a depth of one hundred and twenty-five feet. They . employ about one hundred and seventy-five hands, and have about sixty machines in use, besides the many other mechanical appliances that are common to large factories. About five hundred pairs of boots and shoes are manufactured per day.
The firm of John E. Lentz & Co., who do a very large business in manufacturing boots and shoes at Hamilton and Sixth Streets, is the outgrowth of the house formed by William S. Young and Henry Leli in 1859. They made a small line of pegged goods. John E. Lentz was admitted as a partner in 1866, and the firm was constituted as it now exists in 1871. The junior partners, forming the company, are William H. Weinsheimer and John Seaboldt, Jr. This eom- pany manufactures all lines of boots and shoes,- ladies', misses', and children's fine and heavy shoes, and men's, boys', and youths' heavy and fine. wear. About one hundred and seventy-five employés are constantly engaged, and sometimes that number is augmented. The large three-story building on Ham- ilton Street, with another in the rear, on Sixth Street, are supplied with the best of machinery, and at least five hundred pairs of boots and shoes are manufac- tured daily.
W. A. Roney carries on an establishment for the manufacture of men's, women's, and children's ma- chine-sewed shoes on Hamilton Street, and is the suc- eessor of his father, James Roney, who began shoe manufacture on a small scale in 1843. He went into partnership with his father in 1862. In 1877 the house became W. A. Roney & Co., and soon after- wards Mr. Roney assumed the sole proprietorship. HIe usually employs about seventy to seventy-five hands.
L. L. Roney and C. E. Berger formed a partnership
164
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
in the spring of 1879, for the manufacture of infants' shoes, which business they now carry on with a force of thirty-five employés.
W. II. Knauss began the manufacture of boot, shoe, and gaiter uppers, on South Seventh Street, in 1876, and in 1878 removed to his present location on IJam- ilton Street, where he has half a dozen hands em- ployed on work which is largely taken by the home market. Aaron O. Amey has also been engaged in the manufacture of nppers since 1882.
The Tobacco Interest .- There are in Allentown no less than a dozen manufacturers of cigars. Most of them, however, carry on small establishments, and employ only two or three men, in making cigars for their own retail trade. The few large manufactories make up one of the heaviest industries, and employ in the aggregate not less than five hundred men, producing millions of cigars annually. The heaviest of these houses is that of Ruhe Brothers (Charles H. and Joseph). The business was established in 1854, by Charles A. Ruhe & Son (Charles II.), and the father retiring in 1862, left it to his two sons, Jo- seph having in the mean time entered the firm. Ruhe Brothers have two factories, one on Eighth and one on Seventh Street, in which they employ about three hundred hands, and have had as many as four hun- dred. They make from twelve to fifteen million cigars per year, many of which are disposed of through a branch house in Chicago.
Charles A. Ruhe, the founder of the house just mentioned, was the youngest son of John F. Ruhe, Sr., and his wife, Catherine Maria Henrietta Macken- rode. He was born Dec. 10, 1794, in Allentown, and at an early age apprenticed to a mercantile house in Philadelphia. Later he enlisted in the United States service during the war of 1812, in company with his brother, Capt. John F. Ruhe, Jr., and on being dis- charged opened a general merchandise store in Ruchs- ville, North Whitehall township. After a business experience of some years at this point, he removed to Shimersville, Northampton Co., and remained two years, when Allentown became his home. While at Ruchsville he married, on the 15th of February, 1820, Miss Susannah, daughter of Adam and Catherine Shirer, whose surviving children, among twelve born to them, are Clara, Charles H., Joseph, Annie C., and Mary L. Mr. Ruhe engaged in the general grocery trade in Allentown, which was continued until 1854, when he admitted his son, Charles 11., as a partner under the firm-name of Charles A. Ruhe & Son, and the manufacture of cigars was added to the business. A few years later his sons, Frederick A. (since de- ceased) and Joseph, were taken into the firm. The stock of groceries was disposed of in 1862, and the senior member the same year retired from active commercial life. Politically, Mr. Ruhe was a Whig in his early days, and on the formation of the Repub- liean party became one of its steadfast adherents, though he never sought office as the reward of fidelity
to the party. He was actively identified with the Second National Bank as a director, in which capacity he served for many years. His death occurred Jan. 14, 1879, in his eighty-fifth year.
His son Edward entered the United States service during the Mexican war, and died at the age of twenty-one years. His sons Charles H., Frederick A., and Joseph, under the firm-name of Ruhe Brothers, established a manufactory of cigars in 1862 at Allentown. From small beginnings their busi- ness gradually increased until about five hundred persons were employed, and the establishment be- came one of the largest, and its proprietors the oldest continuous cigar-makers in the State. In 1870, Charles H. retired from the firm, and embarking in the iron-casting and machine business, remained a year and a half thus engaged, when he re-entered the old firm, which remained unchanged until the death of Frederick A. Ruhe, in March, 1880. In 1881 a branch house, for the sale of the products of the fac- tory, was established in Chicago, Il., which has been equally successful, and, in conjunction with the main house, controls an extensive trade. Politically, all brothers were and are Republicans, participating actively in the work of the party. All three have been members of the Selcet Council, Charles II. hay- ing, during his period of service, filled for one year the office of president of that body. He has also, for more than fifteen years, been a member of the School Board. Ile is a director of the Second National Bank, of the Allentown and Coopersburg Turnpike Company, and the Allentown and Bethlehem Turn- pike Company. Frederick A. was a prominent can- didate for mayor on the Republican ticket in 1880, and defeated by a small majority. The family are adherents of the faith of the Reformed Church, the brothers being active members of St. John's English Reformed Church of Allentown, to which they are liberal contributors.
Zellner Brothers, established in 1869, for a time did a large business in manufacturing cigars, but of late have devoted their attention principally to dealing in cigars and leaf tobacco.
The Oak Hall Cigar-Factory, carried on by Weaver Brothers (Jacob D. and Milton D.), was established by the senior member of the present firm in 1878, and the present partnership was formed two years later. They employ from one hundred to one hundred and fifty skilled workmen, and produce on an average two hundred thousand cigars per month, or about two and a half millions per year, among which are many fine brands. Their trade is principally in the West.
Feldman & Schnurman started a cigar-factory in 1873. The senior partner of this firm became sole proprietor in 1881, and now carries on a large busi- ness, manufacturing cigars for the jobbing trade, principally fine goods, and employing about fifty men. Next in importance is doubtless H. L. Allen- bach's factory on South Sixth Street.
1
Gliss A. Puede
165
THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN.
Mills .- On the Little Lehigh, south of the town, David Deshler owned a saw-mill and a grist-mill as early as 1782, and they were carried on by him for many years. A second grist-mill was built in this loeality, but mueh later than Deshler's. After Deshler's time these mills were owned and operated by John Wagner and Jolm Wagner & Son. In 1853 they were bought by the Allentown Water Company, that additional water-power might be secured for pumping water to the reservoirs. At the time the purchase was made one of the mills was owned by A. A. and J. D. Wagner, and the other by G. C. Von Tagen, of Philadelphia. The mill bought of the Wagners was built in 1835 -36. After the purchase both mills were let to Jo- seph Dietrich, and after his lease had expired to other parties.
Daniel and Jacob Saeger, in 1814 or 1815, built at the east end of the Hamilton Street Jordan bridge the large stone structure now known as the City Mills. They did a large business here, and before the canal was opened sent a great amount of flour to Philadelphia by wagons, and also by Durham boats by the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers. After the Sae- gers, Dr. John Romig and William Roth were sue- eessively the owners of this property, and about 1845 it was bought by Christian Pretz and Henry Wein- sheimer, the present owners. The Hanover Mills, formerly the Canal Mills, between the Lehigh and the canal (from the latter of which they derive their power), were built and put in operation by William Saeger and Solomon Keck, the same year that the canal was opened for navigation, 1828. In 1866 this property passed into the hands of Jaeob H. and F. W. Saeger, who, in 1882, converted the Hanover into a merchant roller-mill, with capacity of producing seventy-five barrels of flour per day.
The mill known as Schneider's, on the Little Le- high, near the foot of Seventeenth Street, was built by Henry Fried, about 1830, and continued in his possession for a number of years. It was then bought by George Edelman, who added to it a distillery. Edward Schneider succeeded Edelman as proprietor, but has not operated the mill for some time.
Planing-mills are carried on by Frederick Butz &. Co., John G. Schimpf & Co., F. W. Weil & Co., and James M. Ritter, the latter running as agent the mill at the east end of the Jordan bridge, owned by Pretz, Weinsheimer & Co., and built by them for a paint- factory in 1858.
Furniture .- Cabinet-making was carried on by Isaac Erdman between 1830 and 1840; in 1842 by L. Erdman, and after that time by a number of others. The small cabinet-shops have nearly all given way to large furniture manufactories, in which machinery is employed, and which produce large stocks, including everything in the house-furnishing line. The largest and one of the oldest of these, although it has been in operation only a dozen years, is that of C. A. Dorney & Co., ou Hamilton Street, cast of the Jordan bridge.
The business was established in 1871 by H. Berke- meyer and C. A. Dorney, in a small building which stood on ground now covered by the large block in which is the store now occupied by the company. In 1873 the style of the firm became Berkemeyer, Dorney & Co., the silent member being T. B. Faust. A little later, Mr. Dorney sold out to Eli Hoffman, and the firm-name then beeame Faust & Co. This firm carried our business for about five years, when Mr. Faust was killed by an accident, and nine months later Mr. Dor- ney again became interested in the factory, and the name of the firm was made Dorney, Berkemeyer & Co., which was continued until May 21, 1881, when the business passed into the hands of the senior partner and Edwin H. Stine, under the name of C. A. Dorney & Co. They erected on land near their old factory and present store a three-story and basement brick building one hundred and ten by fifty-five feet, with a boiler-honse and kiln-drying rooms fifty-five by forty feet. Beside this they have very extensive store- rooms. They employ not far from one hundred hands. H. Berkemeyer, mentioned as a partner at one time in the ownership of the old factory, subsequently went into business for himself, as did also W. A. Berke- meyer.
F. W. Weil & Co. carry on another extensive furni- ture manufactory. The buildings on Linden Street were built many years ago by Mr. Weil, and operated by the firm of S. Dornblaser & Co. until succeeded by Mr. George P. Weil in 1877. Prior to 1879 the establishment was not distinctively a furniture fac- tory, but in that year, when the present firm was organized, the exclusive mannfacture of furniture was begun. The specialty of this house is parlor suits, for which a market is found in New York, Philadelphia, and Eastern Pennsylvania. A force of twenty or more workmen is employed, and a twenty-four horse-power engine is required to drive the machinery.
Heimbach, Helfrich & Co. began in the furniture business in 1862 or the year following. In 1878 the establishment passed into the hand of S. & L. J. Helfrich, and shortly after the firm became Helfrich, Gorantlo & Co., who carried on business until sue- ceeded by the present proprietors, Helfrich, Weaver & Co. This firm has its establishment on Hamilton Street.
Chair manufacturing is carried on by Banks & Mathias, on Hamilton Street, who are the successors of one of the oldest firms in the city. The business was started about 1830 by Reuben Rice, who after- wards associated with himself Reuben Sieger, who continued in the industry until 1880, during the latter part of the period alone. The present firm was or- ganized in the year last mentioned. They occupy three buildings-a store, storage-building, and fac- tory-and employ eight hands.
Ladenslager & Babb, who established themselves in 1876 on Maple Street, also manufacture all kinds of wooden-bottomed chairs.
166
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Sehlegel, Ziegenfus & Co. are manufacturers of patent rockers, parlor-frames, and marble-top tables, at the corner of Front and Hamilton Streets, and employ about one hundred operatives and an engine of forty horse-power. The factory was established with a moderate capital in somewhat cramped accom- modations by B. F. Schlegel in 1877, and he associ- ated with himself Charles Ziegenfust in 1880, and took a second partner, Eli J. Schneck, in 1881. The building is leased of John G. Schimpf, who built it in 1871, and, in company with his son, operated it as a planing-mill.
Edward S. Appel & Co. (Paul S. Winker), began business as manufacturers of cottage chamber-furni- ture in 1881. They occupy a two-story building on Walnut Street, and employ ten or a dozen hands,
Grossman & Kluenter, although a newly-established firm, dating the existence of their works on Union Street, near Third, from 1882, have large facilities for work, and are capable of turning out as many as one hundred parlor furniture suits per week.
Carriage-Making .- Probably the earliest follower of this industry was Charles Seattergood, who adver- tised luis coach-making establishment on Allen (now Seventh) Street in 1820. In the following year the shop was carried on by C. & S. Scattergood. Doubt- less there were wagon-makers in Allentown prior to this time, but it is not likely that any of them aspired to earringe- or "coach-making." Joseph Kramer began coach-making in 1827, and Peter H. Lehr succeeded him in 184-4.
Stephen Barber began coach- and omnibus-making in 1830. He had a partner-one Beisel-for a short time in 1837-38, but after the latter year continued alone until 1842, when Keck & Statler succeeded him. This partnership was of only a very brief duration, Tilghman Statler becoming the sole pro- prietor and carrying on the works to the present day, at Sixth and Linden Streets, He greatly enlarged the business, and now occupies a building twenty-six by one hundred and fifty-two feet, three stories in height, employs abont twenty hands, and has a trade which reaches thirty thousand dollars a year.
The works of R. Snyder & Sons, South Sixth Street, have been in existence since 1858, at which time they were put in operation by Snyder & Hen- dricks. The present firm was formed in 1875, and since that time has carried on an extensive business in making all kinds of carriages.
Reuben Eugleman has manufactured carriages here since 1850, and was engaged in the same line else- where as early as 1844. He has occupied his present location, on South Seventh Street, since 1859. The building is a large three-story frame, in which is an elevator, on which the largest carriages ean be lowered in a completed condition from the painting-room to the show-room.
Christ, Peter & Co.'s City Carriage-Works are of quite recent establishment, the firm having been or- I
ganized in March, 1881. Their works on South Hall Street always contain a line of carriages ready for the market, but they mannfacture chiefly to order. Wil- liam Wolf, on North Seventh Street, and Gackenbach & Seislove's, on Church and Linden Streets, also make to order.
Fire-Brick, Etc .- The pioneer house engaged in the manufacture of fire-bricks in the Lehigh Valley is that of Ritter & Saylor. Their works are extensive, and contribute largely to the city's substantial prosperity. This industrial enterprise was established in 1854, by Messrs, Sammel MeHose and O. A. Ritter, under the firm-name of Mellose & Ritter, who were succeeded in 1873 by Messrs. Ritter & Saylor. The senior men- ber of the firm has since died, but the firm-name re- mains the same, as the estate of the late O. A. Ritter retained its interest in the business up till the time the affairs of the estate were settled up, when it was trans- ferred to C. T. Ritter, a son of the deceased, whose in- terest in the concern is in charge of Mr. Joseph B. Lewis. The executive head of the firm is Mr. D. O. Saylor, who is also president of the Coplay Cement Company. The industry is located on the line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, between Front, Chew, and Gordon Streets, and the buildings comprising the plant cover almost the entire portion of the site mentioned, the dimensions of which are two hundred and teu feet by two hundred and sixty feet. The works are thoroughly equipped with the most modern approved machinery, especially adapted to this line of manu- facture, and in all other respects are provided with every improvement that will tend to facilitate speed and perfection of product. An idea of the magnitude of the works may be gathered from the statement that the aggregate capacity of the four kilns the industry is supplied with foots up one hundred and thirty-four thousand bricks, while the capacity of the total annual output amounts to the enormous quantity of over three million five hundred thousand fire-brick of the nine- inch standard, or its equivalent. The elay used is from the Woodbridge, N. J., mines, and is brought here in boats by way of the Lehigh Canal, The pro- duet of the works comprises every description of fire- brick for blast-furnaces, rolling-mills, steel-mills, foundries, and gas-works, and every conceivable shape and size for any purpose where fire-brick is used. A full line of regular shapes are constantly on hand, and odd shapes, slabs, and tiles for various purposes are made to order. Usually abont ninety men are employed, and motive-power is furnished by an engine of fifty horse-power.
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