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 107

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 107
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 107
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 107

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Whitehall Township, Lehigh County. Augustus Ruhe was previously married to Deborah Gang- were, of Allentown, May 21, 1833, by whom he had one child, which died in infancy; and again in 1865 he was married to Harriet, daughter of Joseph Kleckner, of Northampton County. All his ten children were the fruits of his second marriage, with the exception of the one notcd. Three children are deceased and seven survive, thrce girls and four boys, now all grown up and settled for life in this city.

Augustus L. Ruhe was a printer and publisher during his business career, but he also found tune to take an active interest in politics, and was an ardent Whig. He filled many public offices, being at different times Clerk of the Orphans' Court of Lehigh County, and Postmaster of Allentown, to which latter position he was appointed by Presi- dent Harrison in 1840, holding the position for four years; he was also Clerk of the Internal Rev- enue Office, appointed by President Andrew John- son. He abandoned active political and business pursuits in 1872, and passed into eternal rest, loved and honored by all who knew him, on the 5th of May, 1892. His wife, Harriet, preceded him to the spirit world on the 24th of April, 1892, eleven days prior to the decease of her husband.

T HOMAS WEISS, who has been for a quar- ter of a century a resident of Bethlehem, identified with her business and social in- terests, is a son of Francis Weiss. whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. Our subject is greatly interested in fine horses, and owns one of the finest and most noted horses of this section, the handsome "Silver Bell," and for upward of thirty years has made a specialty of breeding stand- ard horses, being an authority on this subject.

The birth of Thomas Weiss occurred April 17, 1847, in Summit Hill, Carbon County, he being the second eldest of the seven children in his father's family who are yet surviving. His boy- hood was passed at Summit Hill until his tenth year, when with his parents he removed to Eckley,

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there growing to maturity. His education was obtained in Saunders' private school, and afterward he entered the military school at West Philadel- phia, there remaining for five years. Starting in as a private, he rose to the rank of Major, and graduated from the academy with honor. On the completion of his term of study and discipline he returned to the mines, where he assisted his father. Working for two years with George Rickert, he en- gaged in repairing the pumps under ground, and later took charge of the breakers. Leaving this, , he formed a company of state militia, the Lu- zerne Zouaves, of which he was made Captain. This company did good service during the reign of the "Molly MeGuires," and other troubles of that period.

In 1870 Thomas Weiss came to Bethlehem, where he started, in the southern part of the city, a manufactury for shovels, scoops and spades, which industry grew to large proportions. After disposing of that business, Mr. Weiss turned his at- tention almost wholly to the breeding of fine horses, and is now one of the very few in the United States who are so familiar with the best specimens of horses and their history that they can tabulate their genealogy from memory. On his east end farm, which he has since sold, he reared a number of noted horses, among which we name "Sable King," "Sil- ver Bell," "Condensation," "Alchemy," "Charm- ing Bell," and "Electioneer." These are all of the finest breeds, being of the Wilkes strain.

Mr. Weiss was the originator and first President of the Bethlehem Fair and Driving Park Associa- tion, and was re-elected, but resigned. In the year 1893 he organized the Gentleman's Driving Club, and is President of the same. They have from two to three races a year, and number among their members many of the prominent citizens and business men. For a number of years our subject was correspondent for eastern Pennsylvania for John H. Wallace, the originator of the Horse Register In politics he votes with the Republi- can party, and socially is connected with the Free and Accepted Masons, the Royal Arch Masons and the Council, and is a Knight Templar, belonging to Hugh DePayen's Commandery, of Easton. Since his twenty-first year he has been connected with

the Masonic society, and is greatly interested in the work of the organization.

In New York City, in 1874, was celebrated the marriage of our subject and Miss Amclia A. Meyer, who was born in that city and there grew to womanhood. Five children graced this marriage, Thomas, Jr., J. Bernard, Wilhelmina, Esther, and Alexander, who died in infancy. The home of the family is located at the corner of Linden and Market Streets. The parents are members of the Episcopal Church, of which their children are at- tendants.

HARLES W. ANTHONY, a member of the Fountain Hill School Board, and a popular citizen of South Bethlehem, is in the em- ploy of the Bethlehem Iron Company. He was born in Carbon County, in 1845, and is a son of James Anthony, who wasa general contractor in the Lehigh Valley and a native of Northampton Coun- ty. He departed this life while a resident of Car- bon County. His wife, who died when our subject was quite young, was in her maidenhood Mary Jarrard. Their four children are all living at this writing, and of thesc Charles W. is next to the youngest.

The boyhood of C. W. Anthony was passed in Parryville, Carbon County, where he received a good common-school education. In 1863, when a youth of eighteen years, on an emergency call, he volunteered as a member of Company A, Thirty- fourth Regiment, commanded by Colonel Aibright, and remained with his regiment until mustered out of service. Next he entered Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, where he pursued a course of study in the commercial department, and graduated in 1867. That year he accepted a position as clerk with the Carbon Iron Company at Parryville, later becoming bookkeeper for that firm, in whose em- ploy he remained for three years.

It was in 1870 that Charles Anthony came to Bethlehem, as bookkeeper for Linderman, Skeer & Co. Later he became bookkeeper also for the Le- high Stove and Manufacturing Company, and in 1880 became identificd with the Bethlehem Iron .

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Company, having been in their employ steadily sinee.

The home of our subject on Delaware Avenue is a commodious and substantial residence. His wife was formerly Miss Emily Linderman, of Car- bon County, her father being Dr. John Linderman, lately a prominent citizen of Pike County, but whose death occurred in Bethlehem. Mis. Anthony is a sister of the late Dr. G. B. Linderman, whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume.

In the spring of 1894 C. W. Anthony was elected a member of the School Board of Fountain Hill, on the citizens' tieket, and is now Treasurer of the same. Though this is the first year of the organi- zation, things have been placed in working order, and a graded school organized in Fountain Hill. Mr. Anthony is a member of the Masonic frater- nity, belonging to Bethlehem Lodge No. 283, of this eity. He uses his influenee and deposits his vote in favor of the Republican party, and is a loyal citizen, upholding the best interests of his fellow-townsmen.

M ILTON KURTZ. There are few of the residents of Lehigh County who are un- familiar with the name introducing this sketch. It is that of a self-made man in the broad- est sense of the term, one who in his youthi re- solved to make life a success. Ile is descended from one of the oldest and most prominent fami- lies in the county, and at the present time is serv- ing as a member of the County Board of Commis- sioners.

A native of this county, our subject was born in Hanover Township, July 26, 1839, and is the son of Henry Kurtz, and the grandson of John George Kurtz, who was a native of Germany. His great-grandfather, who also bore the name of Jolin George, was likewise born in the Fatherland, and was the first of that branch of the family to make his home in the New World. After choosing a lo- cation in this county lie ereeted a log cabin thereon, and returned to Germany for his family. While he was gone the Indians burned his cabin,

and he was obliged to erect another before his family could be sheltered. The grandfather of our subject also farmed on that place, where his death occurred at the age of sixty-four years. He reared a family of five children, all of whom are deceased, with the exception of George, who now makes his home on a portion of the old place. The other members of the family were Henry, our subject's father; Elizabeth, Helena and Susannah.

The father of our subject, April 2, 1833, pur- chased one hundred and seventy aeres of land from his father, on which he located and built a stone residenee. As there were no markets for the produets nearer than Philadelphia, he in that early day hauled grain to that city, which consumed four or five days. Henry Kurtz died on the old place, February 5, 1890. He was a true-blue Republican in politics, and at the time of his decease was the oldest settler in the county. He was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church, and in his rela- tions with his fellow-citizens was upright and honest.

Mrs. Lydia (Schoener) Kurtz, mother of our subject, was born in Shoenersville, and was the daughter of Adam Selioener, an old settler of this locality and founder of the village of Shoen- ersville, which was located on his farm. Mrs. Kurtz departed this life in July, 1867, in her sixty-fourth year. Her father was the owner of a hotel, at which all the travelers who went overland to Philadelphia stopped over night.

He of whom we write was the sixth in order of birth of his parents' family of twelve children, and was reared to man's estate on the old homestead. He attended the district sehool during the winter months, and aided his father on the farm during the summer season. Two years after attaining his majority he was married, February 8, 1863, in Allentown, to Miss Emma, daughter of Moses Roth, a native of Whitehall Township, where also her father was born. The grandfather of Mrs. Kurtz, Henry Roth, was of German descent, and was also a native of the above township. Her father was a laborer in the ore beds of this county, and lost his life in the mines by a "cave-in." Her mother, Mrs. Mary (Nagle) Roth, was the daughter of John Nagle, and is at present making her home

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with her son Louis, in East Catasauqua. She is seventy-five years of age, and a member of the German Reformed Church.

Our subject remained on the home farm, on which was located a valuable limestone quarry, which he operated for many years. In 1865 he purchased an acre of ground in this city from his father, on which he erected a good residence, and later pur- chased ten acres from his brother George. On it he opened a quarry, which he conducted for some time, and from 1880 to 1885 was engaged in the manufacture of brick in East Catasauqua. He is still the owner of the yard, together with a quarry, but rents both plants.

The following are the names of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz: Oscar H., Clara A. (now Mrs. M. Miller), Emma M., Cora L. and Milton M. Our subject was for a number of years a member of the School Board, which position he resigned in 1894. In the fall of the previous year he was elected County Commissioner on tlie Re- publican ticket for a term of three years, giving bonds for $5,000. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and has been a member of the Standing Committee for many years. He is connected with the German Reformed Church, in which he has been Trustee.

ILLIAM P. HOPKINS, General Mana- ger of and principal stockholder in the Słatington Rolling Mill Company, was for twenty-five years General Superintendent of the Catasauqua Rolling Mills. He has the largest experience in this branch of business of any man in the country, and under his supervision the com- pany turns out the finest grades of iron, such as boiler-rivet, stay-bolt, horseshoe, carriage-drop, forging and angle iron, etc.

Our subject was born in South Wales, near Neath, in Glamorganshire, March 24, 1832. His father, John Hopkins, was also born in the Vale of Neath, in South Wales, where he was engaged as a farmer. He died when our subject was quite young. His wife, Mrs. Anna (Powell) Hopkins, was also a native of that part of Wales, and de-

parted this life after having rearcd six children, fonr of whom are living. William P., of this sketch, was reared in Monmouthshire until reach- ing his eighteenth year, and from eight years of age has spent his life in the rolling-mills.

Three years prior to attaining his majority lie went to Staffordshire, and afterward, in Working- ton, made the first sheet of tin ever manufactured out of puddled steel. For this he received a watch from his employer with this inscription: "Presented to William Hopkins for meritorious services, by James Spence, Workington, January 1, 1859." In 1860 he emigrated to America on the sailing-vessel "Middlesex," which consumed thirty- nine days in crossing the Atlantic. On landing on American shores Mr. Hopkins immediately went to Conshohocken, and for four years worked in the sheet-iron mills of the Allen Wood Com- pany.

During the late war our subject enlisted, June 29, 1863, in Company F, Forty-third Pennsylva- nia Militia, and with his company was sent to join the Army of the Potomac. While away from home two of his children died, and although he did not receive word in time to reach liome before they were buried, he obtained an honorable dis- charge, through the kindness of Governor Curtin, and returned August 13, 1863. After his discharge he resumed work with his former employer, and in April of the following year came to Catasau- qua, where for a quarter of a century he was Gen- eral Superintendent of the rolling-mills and had the honor of manufacturing the first plate and the first sheet ever rolled in thic Lchigh Valley. In the spring of 1866, after having been appointed Superintendent, the company leased the mills in Ferndale, which they later purchased, and he was made General Superintendent of the two places.

In 1882 Mr. Hopkins built the large rolling- mill in Fullerton, of which he became Superin- tendent, and which under his management has greatly prospered. Since that time, however, he has been interested in the Catasauqua Manufactur- ing Company, in which he is one of the heavy stockholders, having been presented with his first share by the company. In February, 1890, he re- signed in order to organize the Slatington Rolling

F. A. SCHEIRER.

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Mills, which were built in that place, and which have a capital of $70,000. Walter Williams is President of the eoneern; S. DeLong, of Slating- ton, Secretary and Treasurer; and Edward Ed- wards Business Manager.

Our subject superintended the erection of all the machinery in the rolling-mill, whose capacity is one hundred and fifty tons of iron per week. They have nine furnaces and give employment to one hundred and thirty men. Mr. Hopkins is one of the most practical and thoroughly-posted men in iron-work in the United States, his experience being the result of fifty-four years spent in his own line of work. On his resignation from liis employment at the rolling-mills he was presented with a gold-headed ebony cane and a valuable gold medal, and received from the same company in 1869 an elegant gold watch. Mr. Hopkins in- vented the water-shield for the cooling of the front of furnaces, for which, however, he has never applied for a patent. He was at one time a third- owner of the Union Foundry and Machine Com- pany, with which he remained for twenty-one years.

Our subject was married in Wales, in 1855, to Miss Eliza Thomas, who was also a native of that place, and the daughter of Thomas Thomas, a tailor by trade. Mrs. Hopkins departed this life in 1888, leaving a family of five children, namely: John W., Burgess during 1889-90; Louis P., en- gaged in business with his father; Winefred and Elizabeth, at home; and Samuel D., M. D., a prac- ticing physician in Denver, Colo. The family oc- eupy a beautiful residenee on Front Street and are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Hop- kins is a stanch Republican in politics, and enjoys a wide reputation among iron merehants all over the United States as one of the leading manu- facturers.

RANKLIN ALBERT SCHEIRER, of Slat- ington, is engaged in the manufacture of artistie granite and marble monuments, and is also a dealer in blue stone, coping, cnrbing, steps, sills, flagging, etc. As a result of the busi- ness-like manner in which he lias managed his af-

fairs, he has become well-to-do, and now ranks among the most enterprising eitizens of the place.

The first representative of the family in America was Hans Scheirer, who emigrated hither from Switzerland in 1725. Seven years later he married Mary Magdalene, daughter of Jacob Christ, and they beeame the parents of five sons and five daughters. He settled on the top of the Blue Mountain, on what is known as Wertham's Road, and the tract of land he occupied is still known among the old people as "the Seheirer lot." He rests in an unknown grave in the old cemetery at New Tripoli. The following is a copy of a paper held by our subjeet, certifying to the good eharac- ter of this ancestor:

„Demnach Sans Scheurer, von Bargen, mich bittlich erfucht, ihm einen Seimatichein abfolgen zu laffen, meilen er gefinnet ift fich aus feinem Baterlande zu begeben, um fein Slud weiter zu fuchen, jo habe ich ihm biefes nicht abichlagen tonnen, noch mollen, thue aljo burch bies jes befcheinigen, daß er, Saus Scheurer, von Bargen in Der Grafichaft Urberg geburtig, von chriftlichen Eltern gegeuget, von einer chriftlichen Gemeinde allhier getauft, fich auch) fleißig bey bem Gebrauch bes hochmurbigen Sacraments, Des heiligen Abendmahls eingefunden, und fo viel mir befannt einen chriftgeziemenden Baubel ges führt. Dies zu befcheinigen, habe ich mich eigenhändig unterfchrieben.

Gabriel Strohler."

Den 1. März 1725.

The translation of the above is as follows:

"Hans Scheirer, of Bargen, has requested me to give him emigration papers, as he wants to leave this country to try his luck elsewhere, which request I hereby comply with, and therefore certify that Hans Scheirer, born in the county of Arberg, of Christian parents, was baptized in a Christian con- gregation. fle has often taken part in the sacra- ment of the Lord's Supper, and, as far as I know, has led a Christian (upright) life. To certify this I hereby sign my own name.

"GABRIEL STROHLER."

"Mareh 1, 1725."

John Karl, son of Hans, was born August 24, 1749, and March 14, 1775, married Filbina Weida. They settled in Rockland. Berks County, Pa., and became the parents of nine sons and four daugh- ters. Their son Charles was born July 21, 1793,

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and on Christmas Day, 1818, married Catharine Hensinger. For a time they lived upon his fa- ther's homestead, but afterwards removed to Low- hill Township, Lehigh County. He was buried in the old graveyard of the Union Church. His family consisted of nine sons and four daughters, of whom seven are yet living, namely: Reuben, Nathan, Daniel, David, Benjamin, James and Eliza- beth.

Charles, father of our subject, was born Septem- ber 27, 1831, and in youth learned the carpenter's trade. November 19, 1848, he married Catharine, daughter of Jacob Peter, with whom he lived happily until his death, twenty-three years ago. He passed away on the homestead at Whitehall Station, still owned by his wife, and his remains were interred in the cemetery at Egypt. His fam- ily consisted of two sons and cight daughters, of whom four died in infancy. Those living arc: Anna Maria, who is the wife of David Kline Ap- gar; Catharine Isabella, who married Alfred P. Haff; Amanda Manetta, Mrs. George M. Horlacher; Cora Lillie, wife of Nathaniel P. Smith; Charles Oliver, who married Mary, daughter of Tilghman Litzenberger; and our subject.

In Lehighi County, where he was born Novem- . ber 14, 1863, our subject attended the public schools and spent his boyhood years, meantime being employed mostly at farming. In 1882 he was apprenticed to Henry R. Blocker, of Seigfried's Bridge, to learn the trade of a stonecutter. After serving his timc, he worked at different places as journeyman at the trade, his last position being with P. J. A. Binder, of Mauch Chunk, Pa., from whom he is still holding a recommendation certify- ing to the fact that he is an honest and upright man, as well as an excellent workman.

In the winter of 1886-87 Mr. Scheirer started in business for himself, and the first few head- stones sold by him were cut in the stable on the old homestead at Whitehall. In the spring of 1887, through an advertisement in a paper, he was induced to come to Slatington, where he bought the marble shop and stock of George Frederick, ad- joining Neff's Hotel. From the start he has made a success of the stone business. In 1893, his placc being too small for his increasing trade, he pur-

chased a piece of ground north of Kern's mill dam, with a frontage of two hundred and thirty- three feet. Here he erected a shop 52x20, with an engine room attached. The works are equipped with a twenty-five-horse-power steam boiler, a fif- tecn-horse-power engine, a polishing machine, a rubbing bed, and forge and anvil for sharpening tools, also cutting tools of various descriptions, such as are used by the trade. He gives employment to several men, and manufactures monumental and stone work of cvery description. He also has the benefit of a siding, which enables hin to unload the stone from the car into his yard. In 1894 he received cight carloads of blue stone for paving and building purposes, two carloads of marble, and four carloads of granite for monumental pur- poses. He also received additional material in smaller quantities.

July 4, 1887, Mr. Scheirer married Sarah Mar- garet, daughter of John H. Stofflet, and a native of Lehigh County. They are the parents of three children, Jesse Laurence, Claude Allen and Esther Mabel. Mr. and Mrs. Scheirer are members of St. Jolin's Reformed Church of Slatington, Rev. N. F. Peters, pastor, and take an active part in the work of the church, he being a member of the Consistory, as Deacon and Treasurer. Socially he is a mem- ber of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and Lodge No. 440, F. & A. M. In politics the entire Scheirer family are Democrats, with the exception of our subject, who is a stanch Republican, owing to the fact that he favors protection and is an ad- vocate of high tariff on all imported monuments. He is the owner of a comfortable residence in Slat- ington, and with his wife occupies a high place in social circles.

DWARD MURPHY. During the period of his residence in South Bethlehem, of which he is one of the oldest settlers, Mr. Murphy has become well and favorably known by the people of this place. As a business man he is energetic and efficient, his dealings with others being characterized by uniform reliability and

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fairness. At the present time he is engaged as a contractor with the Bethlehem Iron Company, one of the most prominent concerns of its kind in the state.

A native of Ireland, our subjeet was born in 1833 to Dennis and Ellen (Canty) Murphy. He was the elder of two children, and was quite young when orphaned by his father's deatlı. His mother survived her husband for many years, attaining the advanced age of eiglity-seven. As the family was poor he was early obliged to depend upon his own exertions for a livelihood, and at the age of ten years began to work upon a farm, sinee which time lie has made his own way in the world. Thus were developed in his character the traits of self- reliance and perseverance that afterward secured his success in the business world.

Believing that America offered better opportu- nities for a young man without means, lie emi- grated hither in the fall of 1852, setting sail from Liverpool, and after a voyage of twenty-two days landed in New York City a stranger in a strange land. Hc proceeded to Pennsylvania and inves- tigated different portions of the state with a view to settling. He was especially pleased with the prospects offered in Bethlehem, and accordingly located at this place. Here he remained until 1862, when he went to California via New York City and Aspinwall. Arriving in San Francisco, he re- mained in that place for some time, and later went to the mountains in Idalio and engaged in mining for four years. In his speculations in the far West he met with considerable suecess, but not caring to protraet his residence there, he returned to Betlile- liem in the latter part of 1868. For a time he en- gaged in mining iron for the Thomas Iron Com- pany and the Bethlehem Iron Company, after which he contracted with the latter firm, gulling out sluices and opening three quarries for them, which he now operates.

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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 107

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