Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania. : Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States, Part 104

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1006

USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania. : Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 104
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania. : Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 104
USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania. : Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 104

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The birth of General Reeder oeeurred in Easton, May 22, 1845, and his preparatory studies were pursued at Edge Hill Sehool, of Prineeton, N. J., and at Lawreneeville, in the same state. At that early age his ability and intelligenee were marked by all. In the fall of 1860 he entered the Sopho- more Class at Princeton, but did not remain to finish the course, as in his Senior year, with grad- uation day in the near future, he threw aside his books and enlisted as a private in the Fifth Penn. sylvania Regiment, and in October of the same year beeame a soldier in the One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Infantry. In November, 1863, he was made Adjutant, and later served on the staffs

of Generais Peck and Vodges, participating in the varied operations of the Tenth and Eighteenth Army Corps, and also in the expedition against Charleston, under General Foster. The term of his enlistment having expired, he was mustered out in August, 1863, and almost immediately entered earnestly into the work of recruiting a regiment of cavalry to serve for three years if needed. This was organized as the Nineteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry in October, 1863, he being made Captain of a company. The regiment proceeded to Ken- tucky, and in the early part of 1864 joined Gen- eral Sherman's eolumn. They were constantly en- gaged in aetive field service, taking part in raids and foreed marehes into the heart of the enemies' country. On the third day of the battle of Nash- ville, in December, 1864, the young Captain, who was aeting as Assistant Adjutant-General, was wounded in the right side, and had three horses shot under him. His superior offieers earnestly recommended his promotion for his bravery on that oceasion, and his eommission as Lieutenant- Colonel soon resulted. He was then transferred to the Department of the Gulf, and stationed on the borders of Louisiana and Texas. With his regi- ment he was mustered out, and finally discharged on the 13th of June, 1866.

On leaving the service, General Reeder entered the law school at Albany, N. Y., and was admitted to the Bar in Mareh, 1868. On eommeneing the praetiee of his profession in New York City, he be- eame associated with Gen. Chester A. Arthur, who subsequently beeame Viee-President, and later sue- eeeded to the presideney upon the death of Presi- dent Garfield. In the fall of 1869 General Reeder returned to Easton, where he has built up an ex- tensive professional practice. On eoming here he entered into partnership with his brother, Howard J., now one of the Judges of the Third Judicial District of Pennsylvania.

In 1874 our subjeet was appointed by Governor Hartranft Brigadier-General to command the Fifth Brigade, Second Division of the National Guards of Pennsylvania. During the railroad riots of 1877 he was in command of this body, and was or- dered to proceed with his troops to Reading, which he did, and soon sueeeeded in restoring order. In

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1881 he resigned his position as a member of the National Guards. He was a delegate to the Re- publican National Convention of 1888, and was one of the committee to notify Harrison and Mor- ton of their nominations. When the Minneapolis National Convention met in 1892 he was unani- mously elected a delegate-at-large, and in the state campaign of 1891 was temporarily in charge of the Republican headquarters, while Chairman Watres was presiding over the extra session of the State Senate. He succeeded Lientenant-Govorner Wat- res as State Chairman in the following year. The General is a member of Post No. 217, G. A. R., of this place, of which he has been Commander sev- eral times. In 1872 he was Department Comman- der of Pennsylvania. In the Easton Trust Com- pany he is a Director and their attorney. He is President of the American Bangor Slate Company, and is now Secretary of the common wealth, under the administration of Gov. D. H. Hastings.

The marriage of General Reeder was celebrated in 1868, in Boston, Mass., Miss Grace E. Thompson then becoming his wife. She is the granddaughter of Charles Thompson, a prominent Democratic poli- tician of Massachusetts, who was once a candidate for the position of Governor of that state. Mrs. Reeder's father, Charles Thompson, Jr., now de- ceased, was an importer, and a very prominent business man of Boston. To the General and his wife have been born three sons: Andrew H., a mechanical engineer and graduate of Lafayette College; Frank and Douglas.

EORGE M. HARLEMAN, Trainmaster for the Lehigh Division of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and its branches, is an old and trusted employe of that railway, in whose service he has been active since 1870. He has risen from the lower ranks, having been for many years an operator at the different points of Weatherly, Black Creek Junction, Hazle Creek Junction, Penn Haven Junction, White Haven and Fairview. He has been a resident of Bethlehem since 1877, and has been gradually promoted to his present position of

trust. He is kept constantly busy traveling over the road every day, and has charge of all the train men and supervision of trains, working directly under the Division Superintendent.

Born at Weatherly, Carbon County, in 1856, Mr. Harleman comes of an old family in that vicinity, his grandfather, Isaac, having been born in Mill- port, where he followed his trade as a carpenter, being in the employ of the old Beaver Meadow Railroad Company until it became the Lehigh Val- ley Railroad, after which he was in the car depart- ment of the company until his death.

The Harlemans are of German descent, their an- cestors having settled in the Keystone State at an early day, and having been instrumental in its prosperity. Our subject's father, Samuel, was also born in what is now Millport, Carbon County, and he, too, was a railroad man, being employed by the old Beaver Meadow Road at the age of nineteen as a brakeman. Later he became a fireman, and then engineer on a locomotive. He brought the first passenger train over the Lehigh Valley Rail- road, and was on the road for years. For many years he was in the wrecking department, and though in active service was very fortunate in es- caping serious accidents. He is still in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and though sixty- six years of age acceptably fills the position of As- sistant Trainmaster on the Beaver Meadow Divis- ion. A true patriot, he was Captain of a company which enlisted in 1863, in response to the emer- gency call during the Civil War, and since its or- ganization he has been identified with the Repub- lican party. For six years he was County Com- missioner of Carbon County, and served for six- teen years as Postmaster of Weatherly. Interested in education for two decades, he was School Di- rector. Ile has always been a resident of Weath- erly, and is one of the Middle Coalfield Poor Di- rectors. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian. His wife, formerly Susan Setzer, was born in Mon- roc County, and was a daughter of Abraham Set- zer, who followed farming in that county. Mrs. Harleman died in 1872. Four of her five children are still living.

George M., of this sketch, is an only son, and is next to the eldest in his father's family. His boy-

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861

hood and youth were passed in the place of his na- tivity, where he received a good common-school education. He then learned telegraphy and pre- pared for college, at the same time working as an operator. In 1875 he entered Lafayette College at Easton and took the civil engineers' course. At the end of two years he returned to Weatherly, where he remained until 1877, then coming to Bethlehem as night operator in the office of the Lehigh Valley Company. In 1892 he was made Train Dispatcher of the Lehigh Division, as previ- ously stated.

In New Market, N. J., Mr. Harleman was mar- ried, in 1878, to Miss Mary, daughter of Andrew Ritter, formerly a resident of Bethlehem, but now living in Weatherly. Mrs. Harleman is a native of Bethlehem, and a lady of good education and culture. To our subject and wife have been born three children, Samuel, Helen and Mary. The par- ents are members of the First Presbyterian Church of South Bethlehem, and have a host of warm friends and acquaintances in this locality.

)ILLIAM R. LAWFER is one of the most prominent business men of Allen- town, where he is engaged as a whole- sale and retail dealer in dry goods, carpets and groceries. His extensive business interests, both wholesale and retail, have made him well known, and this volume would be incomplete without a record of his life. He was born in Moore Town- ship, Northampton County, Pa., August. 5, 1838, and is a son of Jacob and Leah (Steckel) Lawfer, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation, and carried on that pursuit for many years. The grandfather was Peter Lawfer, and the family was founded in America during the seventeenth century. The mother of our subject was called to her final rest in May, 1885.

William R. Lawfer passed his early boyhood days upon the home farm, and attended the country schools until thirteen years of age, when he began

clerking in the store of his unele, Aaron Steckel, with whom he remained six months, working for $3.50 per month. In the spring of 1851 he en- tered the store of Stephen Rader, of Bath, Pa., with whom he continued until they sold out to the firm of Fliek & Smock, in whose employ he remained for four years. At the expiration of that period, he entered the seleet school taught by Dr. Thomas G. Apple, a noted teacher, who was pastor of the new Reformed Church at Easton, Pa. Later he entered Phillips & Lehman's select school, taught by John Oliver, and subsequently was engaged as a clerk in a general store in Kreidersville. He was next in the employ of A. H. & Amos Hahn, who sold out to Joseph H. Wannamaker, with whom he continued for eight years.

In 1858 Mr. Lawfer married Miss Hannah Klip- pinger, daughter of John Khppinger, a prominent and sueeessful farmer near Seigfried's Bridge, Pa. During 1864 and 1865 Mr. Lawfer was employed as salesman by Hon. Joseph Laubach, Judge of Northampton County. In 1866 he came to Ailen- town and formed a partnership with Mr. Steckel, under the firm name of Lawfer & Steckel, dealers in dry goods, groceries and carpets. This eonnee- tion was continued until 1874, when Mr. Steckel was succeeded by Mr. Hartzell. In 1876 Jacob Lawfer, brother of our subjeet, bought out Mr. Hartzell's interest, and the brothers carried on the business for three years, when our subjeet bought out his partner and admitted to the firm his two sons, J. Harvey and John N., under the firm name of William R. Lawfer & Co. They conduct an ex- tensive business, dealing in dry goods, clothing, carpets, rugs, tapestries and curtains. They also have a large grocery department, and in the various branches make large sales.

Our subject is a straightforward, honorable busi- ness man, who always pays one hundred cents on the dollar, and in the community where he is known his word is as good as his bond. He is an active member of Zion's Reformed Church, eon- tributing liberally to its support. He takes an act- ive part in religious and benevolent work, and though his business interests are very extensive, he finds time to devote to matters which are calcu- lated to advance the welfare of the community. He

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is a man of quiek perceptive faculties, sagacious and far-sighted, and an excellent judge of human nature, and therefore in business has met with more than ordinary success, yet his prosperity is justly merited.

IIARLES T. HORN, M. D., a well known physician and surgeon of Lehighton, has the honor of being a native of Carbon County. He was born January 21, 1848, and is a son of Thomas and Anna M. Horn. His father, who is a carpenter by trade, followed that occupa- tion in early life, but later took up the occupation of farming, which he follows in Mahoning Valley. His wife was called to her final rest in 1863. They were the parents of fourteen children, twelve of whom reached mature years.

The Doctor, who is fourth in order of birtli, passed the days of his boyhood amidst play and work, and in attendance at the district schools, where he laid the foundation of a good practical education. He afterward attended the Carbon Academy of Lehighton, and for a time followed the profession of teaching in order to gain a live- lihood and advancement in intellectual attain- ment -; but not wishing to make this his life work, he determined to enter the medical profession, and accordingly became a student in the office of Dr. N. B. Reber, of Lehighton. After reading under the instruction of that gentleman for a time, he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, Md., and was graduated therefrom in March, 1878, carrying off the honors of the class. He spent one summer in the City Hospital, in order that a practical knowledge might be added to his theoretical information.

In the spring of 1878 Dr. Horn came to Lehigli- ton, where he has since engaged in general prac- tiee, meeting with flattering success in his under- takings and winning the recognition of the public, as is evinced by his liberal patronage. He is a member of the Carbon County Medical Society, Lehigh Valley Medical Association, and the State Medical Society of Pennsylvania,

In 1873 Dr. Horn was united in marriage with

Miss Adaline Montz, daughter of Joseph Montz, of Lehighton. They have a family of three children: Mattie M., Bert T. and Anna M.

Dr. Horn has been a member of the Seliool Board for eight years, and does all in his power to ad- vanee the cause of education. He is noted as an ardent lover and promoter of the art of music. For six years he was a member of the Board of Pension Examining Surgeons for Carbon County. He is now a member of the Board of Health, and has also at various times held other important local offices. Socially he is identified with the Knights of the Golden Eagle.

The Doctor comes of a well known and promi- nent family, whose representatives were numbered among the pioneers of this locality. His great- grandfather, George Heinrich Horn, came from Zweibrucken, Germany, and settled in Lehigh County in 1780. His grandfather, John Horn, usually called " Squire," was born in Whiteliall, Leliigh County. He moved to Carbon County about 1805, becoming one of its foremost citizens.

Of our subject's brothers, Dr. J. A. Horn, of Mauch Chunk, Pa., is a graduate of Ft. Edward Collegiate Institute. He also took a course of study in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, Md., and in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. Rev. A. P. Horn, pastor of the Reformed Church at Heller- town, Pa., is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College. Edgar A. Horn is a graduate of the Pliil- adelphia College of Pharmacy. George B. M. Horn is a registered pharmacist of Chicago.

T HEODORE M. FREUDENBERGER, of Bethlehem, is engaged in the carpet and upholstering business, and is also a manu- facturer of awnings and window shades. His eus- tomers are to be found in all parts of the Lehigh Valley, and he has furnished the finest houses in this city and neighboring towns. He is a native of this place, and has always been identified with its history. His father, George F., was born in Ger- many, where he grew to manhood. On starting out in active life, he concluded to try his fortunes in

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America, and accordingly crossed the ocean to this country. Coming to Betlilehem, lie obtained em- ployment with Philip Goett, acting as his coach- man, and later was employed in a general mercan- tile department store until 1862. For two and one-half years subsequently ile engaged in running a farm near Seymour, Jackson County.

On liis return to Bethlehem, George F. Freuden- berger entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, and afterward was with the Bethlehem Iron Company. His death oeeurred in 1885, when he had attained the age of sixty-three years. Though reared in the Lutheran faith, he afterward became a Moravian, and adhered to that religion until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Haag, was edueated in the Mo- ravian Parochial School of Bethlehem. She was a native of Germany, and accompanied her parents to this country, settling in Emaus, Lehigh County. In her young womanhood she was in the employ of Philip Goett, and it was then that she met her fu- ture husband. Though now over seventy-seven years of age, she is still in good health, and is mak- ing her home with our subjeet.

Theodore M. Freudenberger was born February 4, 1854, and is the next to the eldest in a fam- ily consisting of four sons and three daughters, five of whom are living. He received his eduea- tion in the parochial sehools, and at the age of four- teen was apprentieed to Gerhard Frick as a general upholsterer. In 1875 he started in business for him- self on South Main Street, and continued in that location, engaged in his trade, for twelve years. At the end of that time, in 1887, he removed to his present location at No. 19 West Broad Street, where he occupies a frontage of thirty-two feet. He has carpeted all the churches but one in this city, the Wyandotte Hotel and Opera House, the Lehigh Valley Building, the Lehigh University in all its de- partments, and many private buildings in Bethle- hem, South Bethlehem and Fountain Hill. His trade also extends to Easton, Allentown, Slating- ton, Catasauqua, Maueh Chunk, and as far as Waslı- ington and adjoining cities. In his employ he keeps a number of assistants, and also does a good retail business in eurtains and awnings.

In Bethlehem, in 1879, Mr. Freudenberger mar-

ried Miss Laura, daughter of John Collins, a con- traetor and builder in Delaware. She was born in Georgetown, Del., and by her marriage has beeome the mother of six children, Lewis, Letitia, Fred, Helen, John and Alfred. The home of the family, which is a substantial brick residence, was built in 1883, and is situated at No. 112 Second Avenue, West Bethlehem.

Mr. Freudenberger is a member of the West Beth- lehem Building and Loan Association, and was active in the corporation of this place, of which he has been Couneilman for two years. He served as Chairman of the Street Committee, which had in charge the grading and maeadamizing of the streets in this portion of the town. In polities a Demo- erat, he takes a commendable interest in public affairs. Socially he is a member of the Royal Ar- canum, and in religion is identified with the Mor- avian Church. He is an upright and honorable man and has the regard of his fellow-men.

HARLES PHILIP COLEMAN, who is gen- eral storekeeper for the Lehigh Valley Railroad, is one of the youngest officials of that road, but is clear-headed, enterprising and discriminating in his business methods, having or- ganized and systematized the department of which he is now the chief. A native of Baltimore, Md., he was born March 28, 1865, and is the son of William W. and Ellen G. (Hiss) Coleman, natives respectively of Baltimore and Harford County, Md.

The grandfather of our subject, Charles R. Cole- man, was born in Baltimore. and became President of the Meehanies' Bank of that city and a promi- nent man in financial eircles. The great-grand- father, John Coleman, was a native of England, and settled in Maryland, where he became a large land-holder. Late in life he retired, and became a resident of Baltimore. The family were connected with the Episcopal Church.

For many years William W. Coleman was a banker in Baltimore, first operating a private con- cern, but later becoming Cashier of the Farmers' and Planters' National Bank. His death occurred in July, 1890, when he had attained the age of

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fifty-one years. He was a cousin of Bishop Leigh- ton Coleman, of the Episcopal Church. His wife was a daughter of Philip Hiss, a manufacturer and extensive property owner in Maryland. The ma- ternal grandfather of Mrs. Coleman was William Rogers, who came to this country with Lord Bal- timore, and was among the original settlers of the city named in the latter's honor. The Hiss family were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Coleman died in 1880, aged forty-two years. Of her four children, two sons and two daughters, Charles P. is the eldest.

In attendance at the private schools of his na- tive city the boyhood years of Charles P. Cole- inan were passed. For one year he was a student in the Shenandoah Valley Academy, after which he pursued his studies for a year and a-half in the Virginia Miltary Institute, of Lexington, Va. Re- turning to Baltimore, he was employed in the Northern Central shops as a machinist for eigh- teen months, and in 1884 he entered Lehigh Uni- versity, taking the course in mechanical engineer- ing. While there he was one of the cditors of the Lehigh Burr, and for two years was Captain of the La Crosse team.

1n 1888 Mr. Coleman became a clerk in the pas- senger department of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, then being made traveling car agent. At the ex- piration of three months he accepted a position as chemist and engineer of tests, in which capacity he was employed for a year and a-half. The fol- lowing two years he was assistant to the General Superintendent, H. S. Goodwin. In 1892 he re- ceived the appointment to serve as general store- keeper under the Reading lease, a new position and office created by the Reading Company. He was the first to occupy the position, and organized the department, which he placed in running order. The headquarters were for six months in South Bethlehem, but were then removed to Packerton. Twenty-two clerks and eighty foremen and la- borers are under Mr. Coleman's charge, and he also supervises the local supply stores along the Lehigh Valley between Buffalo and New York, some four- teen in number.

In South Bethlehem, in 1891, Mr. Coleman mar- ried Helen Douglass, daughter of Rt .- Rev. N.

S. Rulison, Bishop of central Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman have a son, Douglas Rulison. They are members of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity. Politically Mr. Coleman votes with the Democratic party. Fraternally he is a member of the college society, the Sigma Phi, and is a mem- ber of the American Institute of Mining Engincers.

AMES RONEY, a pioneer in the manufacture of ladies' and misses' shoes in Allentown, and for many years a leader in commercial circles here, was born in Bucks County, Pa., February 15, 1808, and is a son of Daniel Roney, who was born in the same county. The latter was of Scoteh-Irish descent, and was a farmer by occu- pation. His wife bore the maiden name of Re- becca Abeason, and by their marriage were born seven children, James being the fourth child, and now the only surviving member of the family. His early days were spent upon his father's farm and in attendance at the common schools of the neighborhood. He learned the shoemaker's trade in Trenton, N. J., where he spent two years, and then went to South America, locating in Caracas. He afterwards made his way to the copper mines of Arizona, and had charge of smelting works for about six months, after which he returned to the Keystone State. From Philadelphia he went to Newtown, Bucks County, where he worked at shoe- inaking for a time, and then removed to Wilming- ton, Del., where he carried on the same business. He was afterward in Lancaster, Reading and Beaver Meadow, spending three years in the last-named place.

Mr. Roney was married in Minersville to Miss Tryaphena, daughter of Daniel Levan, and soon after removed to Carbon County, whence he went to Millerstown, Pa. In 1843 he camc to Allen- town, and for a time worked at the bench. Later he began the manufacture of boots and shoes, which he sold to coal companies, being the first in this line of business in Allentown. He was also the first here to purchase a sewing-machine, which

J. B. KEMERER.

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he ran by hand. He continued the manufacture of boots and shoes for some years, but at length sold ont to his son and is now living a retired life. Although eighty-six years of age, he is well pre- served, both mentally and physically. In early life he was a Democrat, and voted for Martin Van Buren, but afterward became a Whig and joined the Republican party on its organization. He served for one term as a member of the City Coun- cil, and for one term was a member of the School Board.

Mrs. Roney died in Allentown in 1875. In the family were the following children: William A .; Charles H., who was a member of the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Infantry during the late war, and was killed by the guerrillas in 1864, when on picket duty; Mary E .; James, a dentist; S. Kate, wife of the late Rev. J. M. Hurick; Libbie R .; Lewis L .; and M. Ada, now deceascd.

H ON. JACOB B. KEMERER, Burgess, and a practicing attorney, is engaged in the real-estate and insurance business, being a member of the firm of Woller & Kemerer, the largest and most extensive real-estate firm in Beth- lehem. He is a native of Center Valley, Lchigh County, his father being Benjamin Kemerer, a merchant by occupation, who removed to Phila- delphia with his family when his son was quite young. The family came from Germany, our sub- ject's grandfather, Jacob, being one of the early settlers of this region. Our subject's father was a merchant at Center Valley, thencc removed to Freemansburg, where he was engaged in transpor- tation on the Lchigh Canal, in boat-building and in manufacturing rope.

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Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania. : Containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States, Part 104

Author: Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1006

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1006