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 11

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 11
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 11
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 11

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vocation in life he became an agriculturist, and is now the possessor of a fine estate, including onc hundred and forty-eight broad and well tilled acres, which he devotes to general farming. He has his place stocked with a herd of Jersey cattle, and on it will be also found a good grade of horses, sheep, hogs, etc.

The lady to whom our subject was married March 7, 1865, was Miss Mesina Semmel, a native of North Whitehall Township, this county, and the daughter of Benjamin and Catherine Semmel. She was born March 23, 1846, and was the third in order of birth of her parents' family, including the following-named children: Josiah, Reuben, Mesina, Francis, Henry, Louisa, Oliver and Charles.

To Mr. and Mrs. Wehr there was born a family of three children, of whom Osville B. is the only survivor. He is at present a student in Ursinus Col- lege at Collegeville, where he is preparing himself to enter the ministry of the Reformed Church. He was first graduated from the Kutztown Normal, after which he taught several terms of school. Our subject, together with his wife, is a devoted mem- ber of the Lutheran Church. He is a Republican in politics, on which ticket he was elected Auditor of Washington Township. Mr. Wehr has made for himself and family a pleasant home in this lo- cality, and enjoys the friendship of the best people in the county.

S AMUEL T. BROWN comes of a very well known and respected family of the Lehigh Valley. One Samuel Brown came from England in the last century, settling in this por- tion of Pennsylvania. Our subject's great-grand- father, William, born in the Irish settlement in this county, married a lady by the name of Feron. His brother, General Robert, a blacksmith by trade, raised a regiment to serve in the War of the Rev- olution, where he did valiant service. He was First Lieutenant in Col. Magaw's Regiment, and was Captain at the surrender of Ft. Washington,

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November 16, 1776, where they fought for forty- eight hours without food. Their ammunition then giving out, they were obliged to surrender, and were driven like cattle to a church used for a prison, there being two thousand captives in the building, and of the number two or three hundred died. The third day after he was taken, General Brown was paroled with several officers, and after- ward confined in New York, and finally exchanged at Elizabethtown, January 25, 1781. He was elected to the first State Senate of Pennsylvania, in the Legislature of 1783 to 1787, and in 1796 was a Member of Congress, serving as such for eighteen years in succession. He was born in 1735, and died in 1823.

The grandfather of Samuel T. Brown, whose name was also Samuel, was born in Virginia, but moved to Pennsylvania and engaged in farming near Cedar Springs, Pa., where his death occurred. His son, Joseph, who became the father of Samuel T., was born in what is now known as Clinton County, then known as Centre County, Pa. He was a tanner by trade and carried on a tannery, and was also engaged in mercantile business at the same time at Cedar Springs, until 1842, when he located near Weaversville. Owning a farm adjoin- ing that place, he engaged in its cultivation until old age. This farm is still owned by the subject of this sketeli, and since 1750 has been in the pos- session of the family. The father died in 1881, when nearly seventy-nine years of age. His wife, Matilda (Kerr) Brown. was born at Weaversville, and was a daughter of James Kerr, a native of the same place. Her great-grandfather, James Kerr, was born in the North of Ireland and settled at Weaversville, buying land from William Penn, a farm of one hundred and thirty-three acres. Mrs. Brown's grandmother, whose maiden name was Mckinstry, was a native of England. Though past fourscore years, Mrs. Matilda Brown is still living, making her home with her son, Samuel T.

Samuel T. Brown was born in Weaversville, in Allen Township, January 29, 1848, being the youngest and only one surviving of four children. After attending the common schools he entered Weaversville Academy, and at the age of seven- teen years began clerking in that place, continuing

at this occupation for three years. Coming to Bethlehem, he elerked for a short time, and after- ward engaged in the mercantile business for eight and a-half years, and was a member of the firm of Horner & Brown until March, 1877. He then sold his interest and took charge of the old farm, of which he became the owner. In the spring of 1884 he settled permanently in Bethlehem, his residence being now at No. 120 Market Street. For eleven years he has been a Director in the Bank of Cata- sauqua, and he was one of the organizers. He is also a Director of the Catasauqua Land Company.

In 1869 Mr. Brown was married in Weaversville to Miss Emma Martin, a native of that place, and daughter of Dr. Edward Martin, who was a suc- cessful physician in Weaversville for many years, and whose death occurred there. Mr. and Mrs. Brown became the parents of four children, one of whom is deceased. The others are Annie F .; Liz- zie M., the wife of William Moore, an attorney in New York City, and Joseph R. Mr. Brown is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of this city, of which he is one of the Trustees. In politics he votes with the Republican party, and uses his influence in behalf of good local and national gov- ernment.

APT. W. H. BARTHOLOMEW, editor of the Valley Record, and one of Catasau- qua's most widely known citizens, was born in Northampton County, Pa., July 1, 1843. He is the son of Danicl and Catherine (Houser) Bartholomew, likewise natives of Northampton County. The father, who was a member of one of the old families of the Keystone State, died in Catasauqua at the age of eighty-six. The mother passed away when seventy-two.

When our subject was a lad of ten years his parents moved to Catasauqua, then a small and un- important village, and since then his life has prac- tically been part and parcel of the history of the town. His education was received in the schools of this place, but his advantages were limited, and

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to his unaided efforts may be attributed the emi- nence he has attained. In the best sense of the word he is a self-made man. At the outbreak of the late war, though but eighteen years of age, he cnlisted as a private in Company F, Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, August 21, 1861. Shortly after entering the army he was promoted to First Sergeant, which position he held until his re-enlist- ment in October, 1863. At that time he was pro- moted to First Lieutenant, in which capacity he served until the close of the war, being mustered out in January, 1866.

Returning to Catasauqua, Captain Bartholomew has since made his home in this city. In 1877 he was one of the organizers of Company I, Fourth Regiment National Guards of Pennsylvania, which he commanded for ten years. In August of 1870 he founded the Valley Record, and has continued its publication to the present day. The paper is the organ of the Democratic party in the commu- nity, and is an cight-column folio, issued weekly. In politics the Captain is one of the leaders of the Democracy in Catasauqua, and was Postmaster here under the first administration of President Cleveland. Twice he was nominated for Burgess, and although the odds were largely againt him, he was defeated by a very small majority, running considerably ahead of his ticket. In his religious connections he is a member of the Reformed Church.

A ARON W. RADLEY, D. V. S., one of the native residents of Bethlehem, is a gradu- ate and successful veterinary practitioner. His office is located at No. 18 High Street, which place he owns, as well as his residence and other property in the city. He stands high in his pro- fession and practices considerably in this and ad- joining counties.

Dr. Radley was born December 14, 1859, being

a son of A. W. Radley, a native of Plainfield, N. J. The latter was a real-estate agent, and was located for some years at Butztown, where he also engaged in merchandising. Later he came to Bethlehem, where he was engaged in the real-estate business, and here his death occurred in 1871. He was of English descent, while his wife's ancestors were born in Germany. Mrs. Radley was in her girl- hood Rebecca Grad wohl, her birth having occurred in Butztown. Her father, John Gradwohl, was a native of this county, and followed agricultural pursuits. Mrs. A. W. Radley dicd in Bethlehem in 1889, and four of her eleven children are also deccased.

Dr. A. W. Radley passcd bis boyhood in Butz- town with his uncle, Thomas Gradwohl, a retired farmer, and managed to acquire a good common- school education, for a time attending the schools of Freemansburg. In 1874 he went to Easton to learn the drug business, and remained in the em- ploy of A. Odenwelder for a period of two and a- half years. Thence going to Philadelphia, le entered the College of Pharmacy, where he com- pleted the prescribed course of study, and grad- uated with the degree of Graduate of Pharmacy. His uncle having died in 1879, he returned to Butztown, where for a time he was in charge of his uncle's affairs.

About 1884 Dr. Radley began his studies as a veterinary surgeon, and entered the American Veterinary College in New York State, froin which noted institution he graduated two years later with the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Surgery. Returning to Butztown, he there began his prac- tice, continuing to make that his field of work un- til the fall of 1888, at which time he removed to Bethlehem, locating at the corner of Broad and High Streets. He has a regular hospital in Beth- lehem, and is becoming very well-to-do through his large and lucrative practice. He owns the old homestead at Butztown, and also a farm of one hundred acres adjoining that town, which he rents. Dr. Radley has a number of good horses, and is a great lover of this noble animal. In accordance with modern ideas, he endeavors to extend his field of observation and learning continually, and to that end belongs to the Pennsylvania Veteri-

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nary Association. The home of the Doctor is at No. 349 Broad Street, where he has a good resi- denee. He is a member of the Salem Lutheran Church, and in polities votes for the nominees of the Democratie party.

EORGE O. HOUSER was born July 16, 1860, in Petersville, Northampton Coun- ty, where he made his home until reaching his twelfth year. He is one of the best known men of this seetion, is identified with the various interests of the neighborhood, and for many years held the responsible position of Justice of the Peace. He is at the present time foreman in the foundry and machine shops of Davies & Thomas.

Mathias Houser, the father of the subject of this sketeh, was in early life a farmer, and later became a tailor, following this trade the greater part of his life, although at one time he was engaged in the butcher business. He was prominent in the neighborhood of Petersville, was Postmaster of that town, was a Democrat in polities, and was a public-spirited and progressive man, who allowed no worthy movement to fail through negligenee on his part. He was born and died in Northamp- ton County. His widow, who is still living and resides in this city, was prior to her marriage Miss Sarah Buss. She was born in Upper Saucon Town- ship, Lehigh County, where her father, Mathias Buss, was a farmer.

George O. Houser is one of seven children, of whom five are now living. When twelve years old he came to this eity, where he remained until 1875 and then went to Weissport, Carbon County, and en- gaged to work in the bottling works of H. G. Steitz. Three years later he returned to this city, and in March of the following year found work in the shops of Davies & Thomas as foreman of their shipping department. He was later placed in the office of assistant bookkeeper, at which he was employed for three years, when he was again placed

in the shipping rooms, where he is now foreman, having under his charge twenty-five men.

In 1890 our subjeet was engaged in the shoe business in East Catasauqua, which he condueted four years under the firm name of George O. Hou- ser & Co. With his family he occupies a good residence on the corner of Race and Elizabeth Streets. He was married in this city in 1882 to Miss Elmira E., daughter of Edward Kurtz, an old settler of this eity.

Mr. Houser is highly regarded by all who know him, and in the year 1888 was elected Justice of the Peace of Upper Hanover Township. He is a worthy member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, and is Superintendent of the Sunday-school in this town. He took an active part in the building of the ehapel in 1889, being President and Seeretary of the building committee. In politics he upholds the principles of the Democratie party, and he is a man of sterling integrity and good business ability.

ILLIAM DEIBERT, the efficient and well known Director of the Lehigh County Almshouse, is endowed by nat- ure with such gifts as characterize true manhood in all that the word implies. He is at present re- siding in North Whitehall Township on sixteen aeres of land which he cultivates to the best ad- vantage.

The subject of this sketeh is a native of Weisen- burg Township, this county, and was born July 3, 1835. His parents were Daniel and Elizabeth Dei- bert, who were natives of this seetion. The former was a well-to-do farmer, and lived here until his decease, which occurred shortly after the elose of the Civil War. Of the parental family the fol- lowing-named children survive: Maria, Elizabeth Caroline, and William, of this sketeh. The last- named was educated in the common sehools, and entered upon his business career, learning the trade of a boot and shoe maker, when twenty years of age. He served an apprenticeship of two years, and

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for twenty-three years thercafter his energies were devoted to that work.

In 1857 William Deibert and Miss Mary Semler, daughter of Frederick Semler, were united in mar- rage. The lady was born in this county, and by her union with our subject lias become the mother of four children : Justine, now Mrs. Henry Druck- enmiller; Ellen, the wife of Oscar Sechler; Frank and Alice. Mr. Deibert is a strong advocate of public schools, and for six years served as a member of the School Board. His hearty support and co- operation are also given to every worthy enter- prise which is calculated to benefit the community and promote its general welfare.

May 1, 1891, our subject was appointed one of the Directors of the Lehigh County Almshouse to fill an unexpired term, was re-elected in September of that year, and is now discharging the du- ties of the office in a most commendable man- ner. He is a strong Democrat in politics, and so- cially is an Odd Fellow of good standing. The Lutheran Church, of which lie has been Deacon, finds in him a valued member, and his good wife is also connected with that denomination.

A LVIN HILL has long been numbered among the prominent merchants of Beth- lehem, having been active in its upbuild- ing, and owning a great many houses and pieces of property in thic city. He is engaged in the hide and tallow business, and owns the site of the old Moravian tannery. He was born in Brownfield, Me., December 9, 1843, and in that state his father and grandfather, the latter named Henry Hill, were born and engaged in farming during their active life. Our subject's father, Benjamin Hill, died in his native state at the age of forty-two years. His wife, whose maiden name was Hulda Parker, also of Maine, was the daughter of Caleb Parker, who fought in the War of 1812, and to obtain a livli- hood followed contracting and building. Mrs. Hulda Hill died in 1870, and four of her nine chil-

dren are now living. One of the sons, Joseph, enlisted in the late Civil War for three years' serv- ice, going to the front with a Massachusetts reg- iment.

Alvin Hill passed the days of his boyhood on his father's farm in Mainc, giving him his assistance when not pursuing his studies in the district schools. When sixteen years of age lie went to Boston, Mass., and from that time he has been de- pendent entirely upon his own resources. He was engaged in clerking until the spring of 1864, when he enlisted for ninety days' service in the company known as the Old Fusileers, his duty being mainly in Boston Harbor. He was married in that city in 1864 to Miss Ruth J. Annis, who was born in Benton, N. H., and was reared in Stoneham, Mass. Her father, Pearley Annis, followed the occupation of a farmer. Mr. Hill resided in Stoneham until 1874, being occupied in that city in the manufact- ure of boots and shoes. In the spring of that year he removed to Bethlehem, where he engaged in the hide and tallow business. His brother, Joseph Hill, had formerly purchased a tannery on Monocacy Creek, and in partnership with our subject ran the same successfully for three years. The death of Joseph Hill occurred in 1882, and afterward Alvin continued to run the business alone. In 1875 he and his brother purchased the old Moravian tan- nery, which was probably the first tannery located in Pennsylvania, and is situated near the center of the borough on the Lehigh & Lackawanna Rail- road. Here they continued in the hide and tal- low business, which is now carried on by Alvin Hill alone.

The residence of Alvin Hill is located at the cor- ner of North and Main Streets; and in addition to this he owns twelve residences in West Bethlehem, all of which he erected, four residences in Bethle- hem proper; a store building at No. 62 South Main Street, formerly the old Lehigh Valley National Bank building, which is a brick structure three stories in height, also other property. He is a stockholder and Director in the Electric Light Com- pany, a stockholder in the First National Bank, and was one of the first incorporators and stockholders of the Cutter Silk Mill. Besides those mentioned he is a stockholder in the Betlilehem Fair and Driv-

JUDGE SAMUEL B. PRICE.

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· ing Park Association. In 1888 he was elected to serve on the Council from the Third Ward for three years, and in 1891 was re-elected without opposition for a further term of three years. Dur- ing this time he was chairman of the Street Com- mittee, a number of streets being then macadamized, and he was also chairman of the Water Committee and other important committees.

The first wife of our subject died in Bethlehem in 1889, and of their seven children, three are liv- ing: Edward M., who is engaged in business with his father, Harry and Joseph. The present Mrs. Hill was formerly Elizabeth Gangewere, and was born in Catasauqua. They have one child, Lloyd. The parents are members of the Wesleyan Method- ist Episcopal Church, Mr. Hill being a member of the Board of Trustees, in which capacity he has acted since 1877. Fraternally he is a member of the Royal Arcanum and Heptasoph. In politics he uses his influence and ballot in support of the Democratic party.

H ON. SAMUEL B. PRICE, one of the most prominent and wealthy citizens of Mauch Chunk, claims New Jersey as the state of his nativity, for he was born in Hunterdon Coun- ty, August 26, 1823. His grandfather, Nathan Price, was of Welshi descent. The father, Hiram Price, was a native of New Jersey, and followed farming. He married Anna Barber, who was born in the same state, and was a daughter of Samuel Barber.

Mr. Price of this sketch is the eldest of their family. Hc attended the schools of Northumber- land County, Pa., and acquired a good education. He then began the study of medicine with Dr. Masser, after which he took a course of lectures in Jefferson Medical College in 1844-45. Previously, in 1843, he had embarked in the drug business, and later served as a bookkeeper with the firm of Packer, Douglas & Co., at Nesquehoning, remain- ing with them as a trusted employe for seven years. He then went to Summit Hill as one of

the firm of Bertsch, Leisening & Co., contractors with the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company. On the expiration of that period lie went to Upper Lehigh; Luzerne County, and engaged in the man- agement of a store. He was later employed in the Upper Lehigh Coal Company for nearly twenty years, but in 1885 he removed to Mauch Chunk and retired from active business life. In May, 1886, he went abroad, visiting England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany and Italy. He spent six months on the old continent, visiting the many points of interest, historic and otherwise, and then returned home.

In 1856 Mr. Price was united in marriage, the lady of his choice being Miss Harriet Bertsch, of this city. To them have been born the follow- ing children: Harry B., who is now Secretary and Treasurer of the Upper Lehigh Coal Company; Samuel B., who is engaged in the coal business in Cambria County, Pa ; and John B., who is the as- sistant cashier in the First National Bank of Hazle- ton.

Mr. Price has ever taken a prominent part in public affairs, and in 1856 was elected Treasurer of Carbon County. In 1889 he was elected Asso- ciate Judge of Carbon County for a period of five years, and is now acceptably and creditably filling that office. He has also been the Democratic can- didate for Congress. He takes a very prominent part in political affairs, and does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. His connection with business interests lias added much to the prosperity and welfare of the city, for whatever he undertakes he carries for- ward to a successful completion. He has been actively interested in the banking business, having been connected with the First National Bank of Mauch Chunk, the First National Bank of Hazle- ton and the First National Bank of Shenandoah. He is a Director in the Upper Lehigh Coal Com- pany, and for twenty years has been Secretary and Treasurer of the Nescopeck Coal Company. He possesses most excellent business and executive ability, is sagacious and far-sighted, and his enter- prise and progressive spirit, which are numbered among his chief characteristics, have been impor- tant factors in his success. His life has been a busy

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one, yet he has found time to devote to interests calculated to uplift humanity, and since the organ- ization of the Young Men's Christian Association he has been Treasurer, and one of its most active and prominent workers. He and his wife are num- bered among the best citizens of Mauch Chunk, and hold a high position in social cicles.

J OHN P. BROWN, M. D., formerly of Slat- ington, where he had the largest practice of any physician in the city, located in Bethle- hem in May, 1894, as he desired to have a wider field of work. He was born in Winchester, Va., August 6, 1856, and there passed his boyhood attending the common schools. He was next to the youngest of eight children. His grandfather, Will- iam Brown, was also a native of the Old Dominion, and died in Virginia. His calling in life was that of a carpenter, while his son, William D., our sub- ject's father, was a glove manufacturer. The lat- ter was born in Winchester, and that city was his home until his death. His wife, Ann M., was the daughter of William Diffenderfer, of German de- scent and a carpenter by trade. Mr. and Mrs. William D. Brown were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the mother, who is still liv- ing, is a resident of Maryland.

After completing his common-school studics, Dr. Brown entered the Shenandoah Valley Acad- emy, taking the prescribed course. Then for a period of time he studied medicine with Dr. W. S. Love, of Winchester, and in 1875 became a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Balti- more. At the end of a year he engaged as a clerk in a drug store in Harrisonburg, Va., and later oc- cupied a similar position in Columbia, Pa. In 1884 he entered the University of Pennsylvania, and two years later graduated from the medical de- partment with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

On commencing his practice the Doctor located in Columbia, where he was stationed for a year, and afterward engaged in the drug business at that

point. In 1888 he went to Allentown, being asso- ciated with Dr. T. T. Martin for a year. His next field of operations was in Slatington, where he continued to practice until May, 1894. Then, as previously stated, he became a resident of Bethle- hem, and is rapidly making his way into the con- fidence of his fellow-citizens, being well received by the members of his profession. While a resi- dent of Slatington he was local physician for the Lehigh Valley Railroad. His office is situated at No. 83 Broad Street, a central location in Bethle- hem.

In 1887 Dr. Brown was marricd, in Lehigh County, to Miss Mary Maxwell, who was born near Laurens, in that county, and there has been born to them one child, Roy by name. Dr. Brown and his wife are both members of the First Presby- terian Church of Bethlehem, and, though recent comers, are received in the best social circles of the place, their pleasant and friendly manners rapidly winning them a place in the esteem of all.

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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 11

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