USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 55
USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 55
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The Seenrity Building Association was organized Dec. 8, 1882, and its chatter secured in the following January. The officers elected were President, L. I'. Hecker; Vice-President, William Roth ; Treasurer, Joseph Balliet; Secretary, C. R. James, Esq. Direct- ors, HI. M. Leh, Augustus Weber, A. W. Lee, HI. T. Kleckner, and G. W. Harrar. This association was organized with a view to actual wholesale building, and upon a very safe plan, involving several features new in Allentown, though a similar association had been in existence in Reading for some time previous to the organization here.
The Keystone Mutual Benefit Association .- This home life insurance company was chartered by the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania in February, 1878, and was authorized to transact its business of insurance on the mutual plan, and as soon as the organization of the association could be effected the
society began active operations. And, notwithstand- ing the fact that the history of the Keystone covers a period of years the most disastrous known in the history of life insurance, owing to the large number of speculative companies that were brought into ex- istence by unscrupulous parties, it is gratifying to note that this ably-managed institution begins the seventh year of its existence with its reputation un- tarnished. The association has two plans of insur- ance,-the ordinary life and the endowment plan. In the ordinary life plan, the applicant, to secure a policy of one thousand dollars, is required to pay a premium fee of eight dollars; five dollars annually for the next succeeding three years, and thereafter two dol- lars annually during life, together with mortality assessments graded according to age, and ranging from fifty-eight cents for the age of twenty-four years and under, to three dollars and forty cents for the age of sixty-five years. The association does not permit of large policies, the highest in this plan being three thousand dollars. The endowment plan requires each member to pay an admission fee, and annually en- dowment premiums, together with mortuary assess- ments, graded according to age. The highest policy issued in this plan is two thousand dollars in this part of the State. The officers of the association are Dr. W. H. Hartzell, president ; John E. Lentz, vice- president; Rev. Dr. A. R. Horne, secretary ; Elias Bittner, treasurer; John L. Moyer, general superin- tendent ; and they with the following gentlemen form the board of directors: A. M. Schantz, B. D. Keck, T. J. Schmoyer, Elias Mertz, Esq., and A. D. Dresher. The other officers of the association are Dr. W. H. Hartzell, medical adviser; Hon. Edward Harvey, solicitor; F. S. Wilt, special agent. The present secretary of the Keystone, who is rapidly extending the business of the association, was president of the company for four years, and is probably as thoroughly conversant with the details of life insurance as any other insurance man in the country.
Archaeological Collection .- Quite a remarkable and valuable collection of relies of the mound- builder and Indian races is owned by Mr. A. F. Berlin, who has for many years devoted his leisure time to the study of archeology, with the result of attaining not merely local celebrity, but a wide fame among those of our country who have studied the ancient people of the continent by aid of their scat- tered domestic and art remains in stone and flint and pottery-ware. Mr. Berlin's cabinet contains about two thousand six hundred specimens, including In- dian arrow-heads, knives, fleshers, needles, pipes, beads, gorgets, stone axes, rollers, pounders, grinders, and scores of other articles of use or ornament which belonged either to the Indians or mound-builders. Many of these were gathered in the Lehigh Valley, and others came from the western part of this State, from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missis- sippi, and other Southern States, from California,
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THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN.
Oregon, and other regions of the far West, from South America and Europe. The collection, having been made by a man thoroughly versed in the subject of archaology, is one of rare value, and probably has no superior among private cabinets in Eastern Penn- sylvania. .
Cemeteries .- The Allentown Cemetery Associa- tion, which controls the burying-ground adjoining the Methodist Episcopal Church, on Linden Street, had its origin in 1846. The original record states that, " Whereas (Rev.) Charles S. German, being the owner of three contiguous pieces of ground situate on the north side of Andrew Street, in the borough of Allentown, bounded on the south by said Andrew Street, on the cast, north, and west by public twenty- foot alleys, containing in front on said Andrew Street one hundred and sixty feet, and in depth two hundred and thirty feet, proposes to sell the said ground for a cemetery, divided into lots agrecably to one of two certain plans or drafts thereof made and to be sub- mitted to, and adopted by, a majority of the snbseri- bers or purchasers, at ten dollars per lot. We, the subseribers, therefore agree to pay to the said Charles S. German, his heirs, executors, or assigns, the sum of ten dollars for each lot." Then followed the names of subscribers, as follows: Peter Newhard, E. R. Now- hard, John I. Smith, Aaron Wint, Abraham New- hard, Michael Uhler, Thomas B. Wilson, Sammel Lighteap, Eli S. Beiry, C. Pretz, John Gross, Charles Il. Martin, Ephraim Grim, I. W. Hornbeek, Henry Weinsheimer, Charles F. Martin, Charles Keck, Silas H. Newhard, George Lucas, David Stem, Joseph K. Saeger, Peter Koons, - Gibbons, John Appel, Sol- omon Keek, Moses Keek, Thomas Gangwere, George Beisel, Elizabeth Stein, Nathan Dresher, Joel Krauss, Elizabeth Keck, Joseph Knauss, Jesse Keck, Solomon Knause, Tilghman H. Martin, George Keck, Daniel Gangwere, Thomas Wickert, W. & B. Craig, Nathan Eberhard, Benjamin German, Tilghman Good, Wil- liam W. Selfridge, William Fry, Samuel A. Bridges, W. J. Hoxworth.
For some reason the price of lots was changed from ten dollars for one lot to sixteen dollars for two lots. Shortly after the subscription was made, upon March 9, 1846, the persons interested assembled at the house of John Gross, and appointed a committee to draft a constitution, which was subsequently adopted. Peter Newhard was chosen president, Ephraim Grim treas- urer, and John Gross trustee. The first managers were Joel Krauss, Christian Pretz, and John Gross.
The present officers are: President, Jonathan Rei- chard; Secretary and Trustee, J. F. Newhard ; Treas- urer, Nathan Laudenslager; Managers, Tilghman Stetler, Thomas Moore, Ephraim Grim, Nathan Lan- denslager, and O. R. Hoffman.
Union Cemetery, on Tenth Street, was the next. burial-place set apart and laid out after the one on Linden Street, by the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Union Cemetery Association held its first meet-
ing April 28, 1854, and was chartered the same year. The first officers elected were: President, J. D. Law- all ; Secretary, J. F. Newhard ; Treasurer, William S. Young; Trustee, Nathan Dresher ; Managers, Lewis Schmidt, Benjamin J. Hagenbuch, and Mifflin Hanmunn. Eleven acres of land, extending from Tenth Street nearly to' the alley beyond Eleventh, and from Chew to a line half-way between Turner and Liberty, was purchased from Jacob Miller and Jacob Hagenbuch at two hundred dollars per acre. The lots were laid out one rod square, and at first were drawn by ticket and sold at six dollars each, though a short time afterwards they commanded ten dollars, and have now reached a value of eighty to one hundred dollars. There are over twelve hundred lots in the cemetery, all of which have been sold. The first person buried in this cemetery was John Diefenderfer. In 1855, Charles Saeger became presi- dent of the association in place of Mr. Lawall, who was, however, again chosen to that office in 1856. The presidents from that time to the present have been as follows: 1859, Daniel Ritter; 1865, Joseph Young ; 1868, William W. Weaver; 1869, William II. Blumer; 1871, Nathan Metzgar; 1878, Thomas Steckel, who is now in the office. The present seere- tary is J. C. Anawalt, and the treasurer C. HI. Ruhe.
The lots in the Union Cemetery having all been sold, and the greater part of its available space utilized for the burial of the dead, a number of the citizens of Allentown purchased from the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company of Philadelphia, at eleven hum- dred and fifty dollars per acre, nine acres of land ad- joining the Union Cemetery, and extending from it to Twelfth Street, and north and south from Chew Street to Liberty, which they laid off in burial-lots, and named the West End Cemetery. This was in November, 1882. The association is separate and distinct from that which controls the Union Ceme- tery. West End contains six hundred lots, each six- teen by sixteen fect, of which considerably more than a third have been sold.
The beautiful cemetery about three-quarters of a mile distant from the city on the opposite side of the Little Lehigh is called Fairview, and is under the control of the Fairview Cemetery Association of Al- lentown. The petition for incorporation, signed by George Fry, F. M. Kramer, J. J. Stein, William Kichline, Charles Eckert, Charles Kline, and R. S. Shimer, was presented to the Court of Common Pleas, Sept. 16, 1870, and the charter granted November 11th of the same year. The first officers elected were: President, Charles Kline; Secretary, Jaeob J. Stein ; Treasurer, Charles Eckert ; Superintendent, Charles K. Heist; Board of Managers, Franklin M. Kramer, Charles Eckert, Charles Kline, Reuben S. Shimer, George Fry, Jacob J. Stein, and William Kichline. The land which was to constitute the cemetery, thirty acres in all, was purchased from Charles Eckert, William Kiehline, and William Fry's estate at five
224
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
hundred dollars per aere, and the work of laying it out suitably for the purpose designed was proceeded with in 1871. The plan followed was a very tasteful one, and the cemetery soon presented a beautiful ap- pearance. An appropriate entrance lodge of stone was built on the Emaus road, and a receiving vault in the farther part of the grounds. Large sums of money were expended in beautifying this resting-place of the dead by the plentiful introduction of trees and shrubs, and much eare has been bestowed in keeping them in thrifty condition, as well as maintaining neatness in the walks and drives, and upon the grass plats. About five hundred burials have already been made in Fairview. Of the original officers of the associa- tion but one (Mr. Eckert) retains place. The present list is as follows: President, Ephraim Grim ; Vice- President, Esaias Rehrig; Secretary, W. J. Steiu; Treasurer, Charles Eckert ; Superintendent, Joseph Clauser ; Board of Managers, Ephraim Grim, Esaias Rehrig, Charles Eckert, Morgan F. Medlar, Andrew Mohry, Oscar E. Holman, and Milton Kichline.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JESSE GRIM.
Gideon Grim, the great-grandfather of Jesse, emi- grated from Germany. ITis son, Henry, who aceom- panied his father, became a farmer in Macungie, Le- high Co. (then a portion of Northampton County). His children were five sons and two daughters, of whom Jacob, the eldest, was born on the homestead, and married Catharine Huddenstein. Their children were five sons and two daughters, among whom was Jesse, the subject of this biography, born Nov. 5, 1794, in Macungie, where not only his boyhood but the greater portion of his later life was passed. After a period of youth spent at the publie school of the neighborhood and in New Jersey, he engaged with his father in labor on the farm, which subsequently became his by inheritance, and which he continued to cultivate until his removal to Allentown, in 1847. Here he found a field for his energies in the erection of buildings, and in the cultivation of land in the suburbs, which was later embraced within the city limits. He is still a resident of Allentown, and in a vigorous old age (being in his ninetieth year) finds active employment for his willing hands. Mr. Grim was married, in 1818, to Miss Mary Knabb, daughter of l'eter Knabb. Their children are Ephraim, Jacob, William, Walter I., and Deborah (Mrs. William Edelman). The death of Mrs. Grim occurred in June, 1864. Mr. Grim, as a relaxation from the daily routine of labor, in carly lite devoted some attention to the political issues of the day. He was, as a representative of the Anti-Masonie party, elected to the State Legislature in 1833-34, and was also appointed commissioner to
purchase lands for the county poor-house. He was afterwards made director of the poor, which office he filled with fidelity and ability. On the formation of the Republican party he became one of its active sup- porters Er Grim, among his building enterprises, erected the Eagle Hotel in Allentown, which was con- sumed by fire in 1848, and rebuilt by him. He is in his religious convictions a Lutheran, and member of St. Michael's German Lutheran Church of Allen- town.
THOMAS BUTZ.
Abram Butz, the father of Thomas, removed in 1793 from Long Swamp township, Berks Co., to the town- ship of Whitehall, in Lehigh Co., where he purchased the land now embraced in a portion of the property of the Thomas Iron-Works, at Hokendauqua. Here he followed the oceupation of a farmer until his death, which oceurred in Deeember, 1826. He was united in marriage to Esther Egner, and had children .- Thomas and Anna (Mrs. Peter Mickley). The former, who is the subject of this biographieal sketch, was born Nov. 3, 1798, in Long Swamp township, Berks Co., and at the early age of five years became a resident of White- hall township. Here, during youth, he beeame famil- iar with the routine of a farmer's life, and continued thus employed until 1858, when active labor was abandoned, aud two years later Allentown beeame his home. After a residence of seven years in the latter city, Mr. Butz returned to the scenes of his early life, and for the succeeding seven years his residenee was in Whitehall township. Allentown again became his home in 1869, where he continued to reside until his death, on the 24th of March, 1880, in his eighty-second year. His wife still survives, and resides in Allentown. Mr. Butz possessed strong force of character, great aptitude for business, and a matured judgment, which rendered his counsel inval- uable. . These qualities contributed greatly to his she- cessful career. He was in politics a Republican, having formerly been identified with the Whig party, though not in an official capacity. He was formerly a member of the German Reformed Church of Egypt, and later, of the Whitehall Reformed Church. He contributed liberally to the erection of the latter, and served as treasurer of its building fund. Mr. Butz married Maria Elizabeth Beil, of Northampton County, and had children,-John Peter (deceased), Thomas F., Eliza Ann (Mrs. Daniel Troxell), and Elenora L. S.
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JOSHUA STALLER.
Nicholas Stahler, the grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, was born in Upper Milford, Lehigh Co. (formerly Northampton County), and married to Barbara Baer, whose children were Loh- rens, Daniel, Jacob, Elizabeth, and Magdalena.
1
Léfre Given
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THOMAS BUTZ.
fortuna Ställer
Davin Mida
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THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN.
Lohrens was born April 19, 1779, in Upper Milford, where his life was spent in the pursuit of his trade of carpenter and as a prosperous farmer. He was also for thirty-five years a justice of the peace and sur- veyor. ITe was united in marriage to Magdalena Reinhard, born Ang. 12, 1789, and had children, -Joshua, Reuben, Joel, Dan, Asor, Mary (Mrs. Charles Klein), Anna (Mrs. William Reichenbach), Sarah ( Mrs. Solomon Schantz), and Zillah ( Mrs. Arah Ortt). Mr. Stahler died Ang. 15, 1854, in his seventy- sixth year, and his wife in her eighty-eighth year. The birth of their son, Joshua, occurred on the 2d of October, 1814, in Dillingersville, Upper Milford town- ship, on the spot which had for many years been the home of his ancestors. The log school house of the neighborhood afforded him the earliest opportunities for education, though a habit of reflection and close observation aided largely in fitting him for a success- ful career as a business man and a public official. He engaged in teaching for a period of eight years, and subsequently learned the trade of blacksmith, which was followed in the immediate vicinity of his birth- place. He was on the 17th of December, 1837, mar- ried to Sarah, daughter of David Stahler, of the same township, to whom were born five children, all now deceased. Mr. Stahler pursued his trade for ten years with success, after which it was relinquished for the less laborious calling of a merchant and landlord, to which was also added the occupation of a farmer and the profession of a surveyor. He was, as a Democrat, in 1844, elected justice of the peace, and re-elected on the expiration of his term. In 1851, on being elected register of Lehigh County, Allentown became his residence. He was in 1854 elected associate judge of the county court, and filled the office for two suc- cessive terms. He was then elected alderman of Allentown, and re-elected to the same office. Mr. Stahler has been identified with the public interests of the city of his residence, and a promoter of all measures tending to its moral and material progress. In religion he was educated in the tenets of the Ger- man Reformed Church.
DAVID WEIDA.
Kocher), Peter, Elizabeth (Mrs. W. F. Hoffman), Solomon, and Sarah (Mrs, William H. Wetherhold). Mr. Weida died March 11, 1864, and his wife Nov. 9, 1854. Their son, David, was born May 4, 1814, in Lowhill township. He enjoyed the advantages of a common-school education supplemented by a brief period in New Jersey and at the Allentown Academy, and early became an assistant to his father in his daily avocations. He began commercial operations in connection with his brother in 1838 as a merchant at Weidasville, Lowhill township. This was cou- tinued for a limited time, the cultivation of a farm and the business of a butcher also engaging his attention. Having acquired a competency which enabled him to retire, he, in 1858, made Allentown his residence. Mr. Weida was, in 1838, married to Miss Caroline Krause, daughter of Philip Krause, of Saegersville. Their two children are Owen J. and Sarah E. (Mrs. Lewis D. Krause). Mrs. Weida died on the 11th of May, 1854, and he was again married Sept. 1, 1857, to Mrs. Jonas Haas, daughter of Andrew Sheffersteine, whose death occurred March 11, 1877. Mr. Weida has been identified with the Allentown Bank as director, and during his active carcer was frequently called into service as the administrator of estates and to other important offices of trust. He was in politics, formerly, a Whig, and later became a Republican. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.
SOLOMON BOYER.
Frederick Beyer, or Boyer, emigrated to America about the year 1783. Ile came from the Palatinate; was a member of the Reformed Church, and no doubt left his native country to seek a home where he might serve God in accordance with the dictates of hisown con- science. He settled on the banks of the Lehigh River a short distance from what is now Rockdale. . Here he located several hundred acres of land, mostly cov- ered with timber and underbrush, and requiring hard labor to bring it to a state of cultivation. While work- ing in his meadow he was waylaid and shot by an In- dian. He was married and had a son, Henry, who, after he had grown to manhood, became the pos- sessor of the homestead. He was married to Margaret Hanky, to whom were born four sons and three dangh- ters. Among his sons was John, born on the 26th day of December, 1781, and baptized on the 2d day of Feb- ruary, 1782, by the Rev. Vanderschloot, his sponsors being John Sehlicher and his wife, Magdalene.
Peter Weida, the grandfather of David, was an early resident of Berks County, his father having emigrated from Germany and settled in Pennsyl- vania. He removed to Lehigh (then Northampton) County in 1803, and married Charlotta Stump, of Lancaster City and County, to whom were born chil- dren,-John and George. The death of Peter Weida Ile was married in 1802 to Elizabeth Reber, and purchased a farm about three miles north of his native home, on which he resided for several years. Having sold this, he purchased land nearer his parents, where he spent the greater part of his life, being a farmer and dealer in cattle. After the Lehigh Canal was occurred Feb. 21, 1837, and that of his wife Jan. 18, 1835. Their son, John, was born in Berks County, and removed with his parents to Lehigh Conuty, where he followed the pursuits of a farmer and mer- chant. He married Elizabeth, daughter of David Kuhns, whose children were Benjamin, Maria ( Mrs. . finished he was also engaged in running boats from Stephen Hartman), David, Anna ( Mrs. Benjamin | Mauch Chunk to Philadelphia. 15
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
After the death of his wife, he resided with his son, Solomon, at Rockdale, with whom he removed to Allentown in the spring of 1871, and died on the 20th of February, 1874. His remains were buried in the cemetery belonging to the Union Church, in North Whitehall. Many of his children died young. Those who survived were: Elizabeth (married to Daniel Woodring, who died February, 1842). Polly (married to Abraham Woodring), Solomon, Daniel (who lived near the old homestead, and married Salome Klotz), George (who moved when yong to Western Penn- sylvania, where his descendants are now living), Elizabeth (married to Abraham Schneider), Maria (married to Andreas Walp), and Salome ( married to Christian Horn).
Solomon was born Oct. 29, 1816, in Heidelberg township. During his boyhood he attended school at the Union Church, which required a daily walk of four miles. He early sought employment as a boatman on the Lehigh and Delaware Canals, and continued thus . engaged for six successive seasons, after which his attention was diverted to the pursuits of a farmer. In 1842 he purchased the hotel and store at Unionville, and managed both for two years, when he resumed again the labor of the farm. The same year Mr. Boyer erected a hotel and store at Rockdale Station, North Whitehall township, where he became landlord, merchant, and postmaster. In 1857 he purchased the East Penn Furnace, which was sold after an owner- ship of six years. After an active business life, ex- tending over a period of many years, he sold the prop- erty at Rockdale Station and retired to his comfortable home in Allentown. Mr. Boyer was married, Oct. 29, 1843, to Miss Lucy Ann, daughter of John Miller, of North Whitehall township, whose birth occurred March 11, 1825. Their children are Flora E. (Mrs. John Koch, Jr.), Lucinda (Mrs. John H. Beck), Anna Maria (Mrs. E. R. Newhard), John P. (married to Miss Lydia Hunsicker), Lewis F. (who in 1874 spent three months in Europe), William H. (married to Miss Mary Herman), Amandus O. (married to Miss Ella Kerns), James Oliver (deceased), Agnes M., Ida R., Lillie C., and Sallie .I.
Amandus O., while superintending the working of what is known as the Henninger iron-ore bed, in North Whitehall township, was instantly killed by a cave-in. He was at the time managing a pumping donkey at the bottom of the pit.
Mr. Boyer, in addition to his furnace interest, was for many years engaged in the purchase and sale of real estate. He continued these operations on his re- moval to Allentown, and also became owner of varions iron-ore beds, which he still continues to work.
In October, 1869, Mr. Boyer, his son, John, and his son-in-law, John Il, Beck, started with several hun- dred hands for Texas, where he graded five miles of the Memphis, El Paso and Pacific Railroad, after which he removed to Arkansas, and graded eight miles of the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad.
He is a director of the Allentown National Bank, and of the Carbon Manufacturing Company. In pol- ities he is a pronounced Demoerat, but not ambitious for the honors of office. He is actively identified with the German Reformed Church as an elder and treas- urer of the organization. He was also prominent during the period of its erection as a member of the building committee. Mrs. Boyer and all the sons and danghters are members of the same or other churches.
WILLIAM II. TAYLOR.
It is an agreeable task to commemorate an active and useful life. If it be a worldly favor to the hand that presents the sword of honor to the victor, or the decoration to successful merit, it is a quiet but not less grateful privilege to be, to the deserving, the channel of their remembrance and praise.
William H. Taylor, the subject of this biography, the son of William H. and Mary Ann White Taylor, was born on the 23d of January, 1827, at Birmingham, England, where his father was a prominent jeweler and silversmith. America offering advantages superior to the old world, in 1835 the latter, accompanied by his family, removed to this country.
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