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 117

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 117
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 117
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 117

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D AVID McKENNA, the subject of this sketch, was born near Newton Stuart, Wig- tonshire, in the south of Seotland, Jan- uary 10, 1838. Of his father he has but little per- sonal knowledge beyond what his mother told him, as he was but three and one-half years old when liis father died. From her, however, he learned that his father was not only a great reader, and therefore well informed, but that he also possessed sound judgment and excellent principles, which he maintained at all hazards. One incident, as related by his mother, will illustrate the father's character. Owning sufficient landed property entitling him to the right of suffrage under the exclusive laws of the period, he coneeived it to be his duty to vote against the iniquitous Corn Laws, which brought so mueli hardship and distress upon the poorer classes. He was, however, forcman on the farm of Garsenestick, and as the Corn Laws greatly bene- fited the landlords and tenants, his employer en- deavored to induce him to vote for them. This he peremptorily refused to do, saying that he would vote against them even though he should lose his position thereby.

As a great reader, he was well posted in the history and general conditions of the United States, wliiel gave him an intense desire to emigrate, with his wife and son, to what was to him a veritable "Land

of Promise." In the midst of his preparations to do so he died. On his death-bed he called his son and wife to him, giving to his son his wateh, and to his wife his dying directions to carry out his wishes and take their son to America. Mr. MeKenna, though then so young, has a distinct recollection of this incident.

The mother was the eldest child in a family of fourteen children. Her father emigrated to Amer- ica with the rest of his family before Mr. MeKenna was born, and settled in Ohio. Mrs. MeKenna was a woman of sterling worth of character, like almost all Seoteh people trained under the some- what strict rules and customs of Scotch Presby- terianism, which generally resulted in the forma- tion of characters of such rugged honesty and up- rightness as those for which that people are noted.

In compliance with the request of hier deceased husband, she started with her son for America in 1844, taking a steamer from the seaport town of Wigton for Liverpool, where they embarked on a sailing-vessel for New York, landing there in the month of June, after a voyage of five weeks and three days, which at that time was considered a very quick passage. From New York they pro- ceeded to Albany by a Hudson River steamboat, and thence by an Erie Canal packet-boat to Buffalo. A ease of small-pox appearing among the passengers, they were quarantined some miles out of Buffalo. After seeing that her luggage was safely landed, she commanded her son to keep guard while she proceeded to Buffalo on foot, where she indueed the paeket company's agent to return to the spot where her son was guarding their possessions, and bring them to Buffalo according to the terms on which she booked for passage.

Arriving at Buffalo, they went by steamboat up Lake Erie to Sandusky City, and thenee, on the first railroad built in the state, to Tiffin, Ohio, and from there by stage to their destination in Wyan- dotte County, at the farm of a brother near Carey, then a small town just laid out in the wilderness of northern Ohio.

Here Mr. MeKenna spent his boyhood, attending school about three months in the year, and helping to clear one of the largest farms in that section of the county. In 1856 he came to Pennsylvania

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and settled in Slatington, then a hamlet of about twenty-five houses, where he has lived ever since. Here he began life as an employe of the Lehigh Slate Company, the first organized slate company that ever existed here, but was soon, in 1857, ap- pointed agent for the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Slatington, which position he retained until 1865, when he again beeame identified with the Lehigh Slate Company, both as a stoekholder and as assist- ant to his father-in-law, the late Robert McDowell, who was the manager of the company until 1878, when he died, and Mr. MeKenna succeeded him as the company's Superintendent and Treasurer.

In 1866 he helped organize the MeDowell Slate Company, and was its Superintendent until 1867. This company has since been changed, and is now known as the Girard Slate Company. In 1867 he helped organize the Brooklyn Slate Company, whose property is now being worked by William N. Rae, of Brooklyn, N. Y. From 1870 until 1875 Mr. McKenna was associated with John Morgan in the mercantile business. In 1872, with several other gentlemen, he bought the Kern Farm slate property, in the development of which he is still interested. Upon this property no less than six separate companies have up to this time been sue- cessful in opening very extensive and profitable quarries, while a seventh company is now being organized to open still another quarry. After the War of the Rebellion Mr. McKenna was for a num- ber of years interested in the manufacture of sehool slate, and in 1884 became one of the lessees of the Meadowbrook Quarry, on the H. Williams estate at Williamstown, and continued as such until 1891. It will be seen, therefore, that he has been promi- nently eonneeted with the development of the slate industries of the Slatington region, and he still continues to give his principal attention to liis slate business and its interests.

In 1865 Mr. McKenna married his present wife, R. Augusta, the eldest daughter of the late Robert McDowell. They were blessed with four daugh- ters: Sallie A., who married the late Frank Prinee; Helen Augusta, Phoebe B. and Stella A. Two of these have, however, died-Helen Augusta, at the age of twenty montlis; and Plicbe B., at the age of nineteen years. Mr. and Mrs. McKenna's

home is a very happy one, where every guest en- joys a most heartsome welcome and hospitality, in this respect still preserving the social amenities so characteristic of the Scotch race.

In the affairs of the borough of Slatington, es- pceially in its publie schools, Mr. McKenna has always taken a lively interest, having served on the School Board as President, Secretary or Treasurer for more than twenty years. He has for many years been a Ruling Elder in the Pres- byterian Church and Superintendent of its Sun- day-school since the year 1878. The Presbytery of Lehigh sent him as a delegate to the General Assembly at Omaha in the year 1887, and to the Synod of Pennsylvania at Wheeling, W. Va., in 1890. In politics he has always been a Republican, and an ardent worker from the beginning of his active life, when it required a good deal of pluck and firmness to be known as sueh. To him at least as much as to any other is due the growth of Republican principles, and the handsome majori- ties which Slatington has always given for the party. For more than twenty years he has been a Notary Publie, the nominee of his party for both the State Assembly and Senate, and a delegate to several state conventions. After the state law extending the term of Chief Burgess from one to three years went into effect, he was almost unani- mously nominated by his party to be the first Chief Burgess of Slatington to serve the three-year termn; but owing to the ineompatibility of the office with that of Notary Public, which he held, he declined the nomination. He is also a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, being a Past Master of Slatington Lodge No. 440, having twice been honored with an election to the Master's ehair, besides being a member of the chapter and Allen Commandery No. 20, K. T. As an enthusiastic Scotch-Irishman, he is also a member of the Seotch-Irish Society of America, having been elected to membership at the Third Congress of that society. He attended its congress in 1892, at Atlanta, Ga.

A biographical sketch of the living may often seem to savor of adulation, which in the ease of the dead would not so appear. In this sketch, however, only the principal events and relations of our subject's busy and useful life have been

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briefly narrated. It is therefore neither adulation nor fulsome praise to say in conclusion that, owing to the inherited characteristics of the virile race from which he sprang, and for which it is famous, as well as the result of training and circumstance, Mr. MeKenna is one of the. prominent and influen- tial eitizens of the Lehigh Valley, whose influenee for any cause which he espouses is pronouneed, and whose opinions, expressed with deliberation and emphasis, are sought and respected in his eommu- nity.

HARLES F. BROWN is President of the Board of Trade of South Bethlehem, See- retary and Treasurer of the South Bethle- hem Improvement Company, and is a lumber mer- chant of South Bethlehem. He is a very liberal and progressive citizen, who has endeavored in every possible way to promote the best interests of the city. A native of Allegany County, N. Y., he was born near Angelica, Marelı 4, 1849. His pater- nal grandfather, Rev. James Brown, who was a graduate of a theologieal seminary in Rhode Isl- and, was born in that state, and was a minister in the Baptist Church. Removing to Washington County, N. Y., he there spent the remainder of his life, attaining the age of eighty-five years. During the Revolutionary War he was a Chaplain.

David Brown, the father of our subjeet, was born in 1801, on the banks of Lake George, in Washing- ton County, N. Y., and in his youth learned to op- erate a farm, and later devoted himself to milling. For a number of years he operated a mill on a branch of the Genesee River, in Allegany Coun- ty. He served in various official eapacities, being a stanch Whig, and later a Republican, and was eleeted by his fellow-citizens to serve for one term as Sheriff, and for the same length of time was also a Deputy Sheriff. He was twiee married, and of his first union six children were born, of whom two are living. He departed this life in 1869, and in the same year his second wife, who was formerly Waty Norten, also passed away. Her father, Rich- ard Norten, was born in Plymouth County, Mass.,

and was a prominent farmer of Hartford Town- ship, Washington County, where Mrs. Brown's birth occurred. The latter was the mother of nine children, eight of whom are living, and of these our subject is the youngest. His brother Oring S. is editor of the Pennsylvania Gazette and Bulletin of Williamsport; and another brother, Ste- phen S., who was a soldier in the Pennsylvania regiment during the late war, is engaged in the lumber business in the same city.

Charles F. Brown was brought up in Allegany County, learning the miller's trade. When twenty years of age he became a clerk in the postoffice at Angelica, where he remained for two years. Next entering the Government survey service lie went with a corps of men - to Nevada and engaged in lay- ing out townships. In 1873 he returned to the East, and in Williamsport became inspector of lumber on the Lumbermen's Exchange for one year. He eon- tinued to serve as an inspector until 1874, when he eame to South Bethlehem, of which place he has been a resident. As a member of the firm of Brown & Howe, he started a lumber-yard on the present site of the business, and in 1878 bought his partner's interest, sinee being alone. The lumber- yards are located at the corner of Brodhead Avenue and Graham's Court, and have a frontage of one hundred feet and a depth of four hundred feet, with sheds and piling room, 210x400 feet. The yards have a side-track from the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, and four teams are kept eon- stantly busy delivering lumber and supplying the trade. All kinds of lumber are kept in stoek, cy- press and yellow pine from Louisiana, and other varieties from different parts of the Union.

Mr. Brown was one of the founders of the Board of Trade, which was organized in the fall of 1891, was elected its first President and has been Presi- dent ever sinee. He is Secretary and Treasurer of the South Bethlehem Improvement Association, and one of the organizers of the South Bethlehem Building and Loan Association. He has erected numerous buildings in the place, in the welfare and development of which he has been an enthusiastic participant.

In this city Mr. Brown was married in 1876 to Miss Emma Kleckner, who was born in Carbon

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County, and they have one child, a daughter, Mar- ion. In 1893 Mr. Brown was a nominee on the Republican ticket, and elected Burgess under the Baker ballot system, and though his party was in a minority of eight hundred, he won by a ma- jority of seventeen votes. He served to the satis- faction of his constituents from April, 1893, to April, 1894, when he refused to again become a candidatc.

BARTRON. Pen Argyl is noted for its large manufactories, mills, quarries and en- ergetic business men. Among the latter may be mentioned the name of our subject, S. Bar- tron. He is a native of Northampton County, born near Stroudsburg, April 13, 1855, and is of French descent, his remote ancestors having come from France to this country in an early day, but for a number of generations past they have residcd in Pennsylvania. Josiah Bartron, the father of our subject, was born near Water Gap, Monroe County, but for some time has made his home in North- ampton County. He is a general agriculturist, residing ou a farm near Portland, and is well known and highly respected in the community. Josiah Bartron married Maria Detrich, and to them were born four children: Daniel, a farmer living near Portland; Eva Ann, the wife of Peter H. Pipher, of Water Gap; Ananias, residing on a farm near Portland; and S., our subject. The father is a Democrat in his political views, and a stanch adherent of the principles of that party. In his religious views he is a consistent member of the Baptist Church.

S. Bartron was reared on a farm near Strouds- burg until he was twelve years of age, when his parents removed to Northampton County, and lo- cated near Portland. He received a common- school education, and in early life learned the trade of machinist. He was first employed in the machinc-shops of Bethlehem, where he had learned his trade, and afterward in Scranton and Strouds- burg. In 1879 he returned to Portland, and in connection with Greshon Blake started a foun- dry, which for three years they carried on very

successfully. At the expiration of this time he dissolved partnership with Mr. Blakc, and formed a new one with Leroy Pearson, continuing in the same business for another three years. He then sold out his interest in the business at Portland and removed to Pen Argyl, where he lias carried on a similar vocation up to the present time. His foundry is one of the largest in the state, having a very extensive and excellent trade, and he is counted among the popular and most prosperous business men of Pen Argyl. The work consists of building steam engines, hoisting machinery and all kinds of steam boilers.

In connection with other interests, our subject is the President, Superintendent and a Director of the Pen Argyl Electric Light and Power Company, and at one time was a stockholder in the Slating- ton Rolling Mills. Socially lie is identified with Pen Argyl Lodge No. 594, and also with Portland Lodge No. 311, and holds the office of Past Master in both lodges.

In 1878 our subject and Miss Malinda Strunk were joined in the holy bonds of matrimony. She is a daughter of Benjamin Strunk, a well known citizen of Portland. Mr. and Mrs. Bartron occupy a high position in the social circles of Pen Argyl, and arc members of the Baptist Church, in which they are active workers and liberal givers, always ready to' lend a helping hand to the needy and to the support of Christianity. He is a Democrat in politics, and although an ardent supporter of the candidates of that party, he has never aspired to public office. He is liberal-spirited, and interested in all matters of mutual welfarc, and ever ready to assist in the work of improving his home locality.

F RANK C. MILLER is engaged in the hard- ware business at Easton, and is manager of the Thomas T: Miller Hardware Com- pany (limited), of which his father was formerly proprietor. This concern does a strictly wholesale business of large proportions, and keeps three sales- men continually on the road. The offices and store-rooms are at Nos. 30 and 32 North Fourth

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Street, and occupy a space 60x220 feet in size. The front of this substantially built structure is of stone, and the remainder of brick and iron. A large and well selected stock of light and heavy hardware is constantly kept on hand, and the trade of the firin extends to eastern Pennsylva- nia and New Jersey.

The Miller family is of Irish origin, as our sub- ject's grandfather was a native of the Emerald Isle. For a number of ycars prior to his death he lived near Finnesville, Monroe County, Pa. In politics he was connected with the Democratic party. His wife was before her marriage Catherine La Barr. She came from a long-lived family, and one of her brothers, George, attained the remarkable age of one hundred and fourteen years. Mrs. Miller, who was born in France, removed to Portland, this county, with her parents and was there mar- ried. To herself and husband there were born twelve children: Menassa, Depcw (deceased), James, Thomas T., Mrs. Katie J. Young, Timothy (deceased), Matthias (of Kansas), Theodore, Mrs. Rachel Featherman, Mrs. Sallie Ann Azer, Eleanor (Mrs. Edinger) and Charles. The mother of this family died when in her cighty-seventh year.

Thomas T., father of Frank C. Miller, was born on the old liomestead near Finnesville, Monroe County. In early life he engaged in clerking in that village, and afterwards drifted into the dry- goods, and finally into the hardware, business. In 1849 he opened a retail store in Easton, which lie continued until 1874, after which time he con- ducted a wholesale business. He was President, of the Northampton County National Bank at the time of his death, a placc he had filled four years, and was also prominently identified with many of tlic industries of Easton. A man of upright prin- ciple and worthy qualities, he was moreover a good example of a self-made man, as he acquired his fortune through the exercise of industry, fru- gality and strict attention to business. At a crisis in the history of the bank of which he later became President, he was instrumental in its salvation, and also placed the institution upon a substantial basis. In politics he was a Democrat, and at one time was a candidate for Associate Judge of North- ampton County. In the work of the Young

Men's Christian Association he was very much in- terested, and during his entire life it was his aim to fulfill his duty in every respect to his fellows. His death, which was much lamented by friends and citizens, occurred January 14, 1890, at the age of sixty-five years.

Thomas T. Miller chose for his life companion and helpmate Miss Emma Maxwell, to whom he was married in 1847. To himself and wife, the latter of whom is still living, were born eight children, as follows: Annie E., who became the wife of Andrew Hart, now deceased; Emily, wife of A. R Dunn, who is engaged in the wholesale tobacco business in this place; Edwin, deceased; Frank C., our subject; Thomas T., Jr., deceased; Rufus W., a leader in the Reformed Church organ- ization; Florence S., who is at home; and Georgia E., deceased. The youngest son, Rufus W., is a graduate of Lafayette College, and completed a theological course at Franklin and Marshall Col- lege and in the Reformed Theological College at New York City, after which he pursucd his studies in Germany. At present he is General Secretary of the Reformed Church of the United States, and is located at Reading, Bucks County, this state. He is also the founder of the Brother- hood of Andrew and Philip.

Frank C. Miller was born November 30, 1856, at Easton, and received a good public-school educa- tion in this city. When sixteen years of age he determined to learn the jeweler's trade, and after doing so followed that occupation for seventeen years at Belvidere, N. J. In 1890, upon his father's death, he sold out his jewelry cstablishment. He and his brother, Rev. Rufus Miller, were the ex- ecutors of the cstate, but the brunt of the business fell upon the elder's shoulders.

The concern which Mr. Miller now manages is one of the largest of the kind in this part of the state, and the wares find ready sale. In addition to his other business interests he has bouglit and improved a tract of twelve hundred acres in Monroe County, which is a delightful summer resort called Naomi Pincs. It stands on the summit of Pocono Mountain, about two thou- sand fect above the sea level, and ncar the hotel .. which is well equipped for the convenience of

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guests, is a magnificent grove consisting of one hundred acres of many varieties of pine and hemlock trees. This resort has a water frontage on a beautiful mountain stream, which affords boating and fishing for several miles, and in addi- tion to this there is a fine, cold, pure spring, which supplies the house with an abundant supply of water. The estate is located on the Wilkes Barre & Eastern Railroad, and the postoffice near by is named Naomi Pines.

HARLES H. NEISSER is superintendent of the Bethlehem South Gas and Water Com- pany, and discharges his duties with faith- fulness and ability. He is well thought of in this city, where he numbers a large circle of friends and acquaintances, as he is active in business and fraternal circles and is identified with the general welfare of the place.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, William George Neisser, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in November, 1796, and was a son of George H. Neisser, a native of Germantown, born in 1771. The family history can be still further traced, as it is known that the father of the last-named, Augustine Neisser, was born in Moravia in 1717, and located in 1737 in Germantown, where he fol- lowed his trade of cutler. He died in that city in 1780. His wife was Catherine Reissinger, and by her he had three sons. One of these, George H., previously mentioned, became a resident of Bethle- hem, where his death occurred September 17, 1803. His son, William G., was here engaged in general business until liis deatlı, June 10, 1859. His wife, Frances, was a daughter of William and Barbara Bochler. These ancestors of our subject were all Moravians in religious belief.

B. F. Neisser, our subject's father, was born in Bethlehem, and learned the cabinet-maker's trade. In middle age he became a Justice of the Peace of the First Ward in Bethlehem, serving for many years. For some time prior to his death he was an invalid, having been stricken with paralysis He departed this life in 1888, aged sixty-four years. His wife, Sarah Ann Smith, was a native of Bucks

County, having been born in Haycock Town- ship. in 1822. Slie was a daughter of I. George and A. M. Smith, who were both born in Bucks County. The former dicd at the age of sixty-five, and the latter, whose maiden name was Anna Maria Steinbach, died at the age of seventy-eight years. Mrs. Neisser was called from this life May 30, 1889. Her eldest son, William G., was accidentally killed on the railroad in 1877, at the age of twenty-five years. The youngest son, Edward A., is in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad in the capac- city of clerk.

The birth of Charles H. Neisser occurred June 28, 1853, in this city, and liis education was ob- tained in the Moravian Parochial Schools, where he completed the course. Afterward he clerked in various stores until 1870, when he became a clerk in the employ of tlie Lehigh Valley Railroad in the office of H. Stanley Goodwin. In 1874 he became bookkeeper for E. P. Wilbur, and in 1879 was appointed Collector for the Gas and Water Company. Later he was made Secretary, and on the death of B. E. Lehman, in February, 1892, was made Acting Superintendent, and later Superin- tendent, in connection withi liis work as Secretary. Finding the business too large, however, hc resigned the latter office, his time being amply taken up with the duties of Superintendent.

The Bethlehem South Gas and Water Company was incorporated in 1864. In 1867 the company erected a coal-gas plant, and began the manufacture of gas the same year. This piant was in operation until 1888, when, owing to the great increase in con- sumption, a new and more modern one was erccted, with apparatus for the manufacture of gas by the Lowe proccss. The works arc located at the corner of Linden Street and the North Pennsylvania Rail- road, and have a capacity of two hundred and fifty thousand cubic feet per day. In 1875 the company commenced to supply the people of South Bethle- hem with water by a system of pumping direct into tlic mains. In 1885 (ten years later) two reservoirs of one and a-half million gallons' capacity cach were built in order to mect the increased demands of their patrons, and a pumping station was erected along the tracks of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, opposite Calypso Island, with a pumping

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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 117

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