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 123
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 123
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 123
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The Doctor was born in Bethlehem June 30, 1859, being a son of Dr. Aaron D. Becker, a native of Northampton County. The paternal grandfa- ther of our subject, Rev. Jacob Becker, was born in Baltimore, and became a minister in the Reformed Church, preaching in Northampton and Lehigh Counties. He was also a homeopathic physician, and practiced medicine to some extent. Dr. Aaron Becker was reared in Northampton County, and
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on arriving at man's estate entered the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Commenc- ing his practice in Northampton County, he there continued to reside for many years. Later he was located for a short time in Lehigh County, but finally settled in Bethlehem, where he engaged in practice until he was called from this life, June 18, 1883, at the age of fifty-two years. He had been a member of the One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, in which he enlisted as a private soldier, but was promoted by Governor Perkins to the post of Assistant Surgeon. He re- mained in the army for about a year, and after- ward was identified with Fullerton Post, G. A. R., of Catasauqua. In religion he was a member of the Reformed Church. His wife, whose maiden name was Caroline Fetter, was born in Lancaster County, and is now a resident of Bethlehem. She and her people are adherents of the Moravian faith. Of her seven children who grew to man- hood and womanhood, six are yet living.
Dr. Becker of this sketch was reared in the Lehigh Valley, his education being obtained in the common schools and in Weaversville Academy, where he completed the course at the age of four- teen years, under Professor Kuma's instruction. Like his father and grandfather, his tastes ran in the direction of the medical profession, and he early commenced studying with his father, under whose able instruction he laid the foundation of his future knowledge. After leaving his father's Office he went to Philadelphia, and there entered the Hahnemann Medical College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he attended the clinics and lec- tures of the two-years course, graduating there- from in 1882 with the degree of Doctor of Med- icine. On commencing his active practice he returned to Betlilehcm and has since been engaged particularly as a specialist in the diseases of women and as an oculist. He is a member of the Lehigh Valley Homeopathic Medical Society, is a member of the Alumni Association of Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, and is examining physician for a number of different life-insurance companies.
Our subject was married in this city, June 30, 1880, to Miss Ella, daughter of Squire T. O. Frad-
eneck, and they have two children, George D. F. and Florence E. The parents are members of the Moravian Church, and in politics the Doctor is a Democrat. He is interested in many secret socie- ties, belonging to Cypress Commandery, K. of M., of which he is First Past Master and Second Lieu- tenant; to the College of Ancients, in which he is serving his second term as Grand Junior Swords- man; to the Order of Red Men, being Past Sachem of Lappawindsoe Tribe No. 154; to the Knights of the Golden Eagle, in which he is Past Chief; to Capt. O. Rubenbauch Post No. 182, S. of V., of Bethlehem; to the Odd Fellows; and to the Ini- proved Order of Heptasophs.
ILLIAM B. SHAFFER is President of the Pennsylvania Paint and Ochre Company of Allentown. The progress and prosperity of the city are due to its inhabi- tants, and the enterprising spirit of our subject has aided materially in the advancement and up- building of the community in which he now resides. He is a public-spirited and valued citizen, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers the record of his life work.
Mr. Shaffer was born on the 27th of Novem- ber, 1851, near Brcinigsville, Lehigh County, Pa., where his father, Levi Shaffer, was also born. The latter married Julia Barber, who was also born in Lehigh County, and is a daughter of Stephen Bar- ber, who was a native of England, and came with his parents to the United States during his infancy. Mr. Shaffer's father died in 1888, but his mother still survives, and now makes her home in Allen- town. They were the parents of nine children, three sons and six daughters.
William B. Shaffer, the eighth in order of birth, conned his lessons in the common schools between the ages of six and ten years, and then started out in life for himself, working for the next eight
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years in the iron-ore mines. He was thus employed until 1869, after which he spent one year on a farm in New Jersey. He then began clerking, in the employ of J. L. Butz, of Breinigsville, with whom he remained for four years. On the expiration of that period he came to Allentown, in 1873, and for four years was employed as a salesman in the dry- goods house of A. A. Huber. In 1877 he started out in business on his own account, forming a part- nership with Owen Bortz, under the name of Bortz & Shaffer. They dealt in coal, wood and blasting powder, and the connection continued for two and a-half years, after which Mr. Shaffer sold out and began handling mining powder. In 1880 he com- menced the manufacture of powder, which he con- tinued for about eighteen months, when he disposed of his plant to the Dupont Powder Company. After that he engaged largely in mining iron ore, and at the same time he became interested in the zinc mincs of Missouri.
Mr. Shaffer is now the owner of the noted Peru- vian ochre beds in the state of Georgia, a rich de- posit, which makes the mines very valuable. Be- sides making extensive shipments of the ochre throughout this country, he also ships to England and all parts of Europe. In the year 1893, large- ly through his instrumentality, the Pennsylvania Paint and Ochre Company was organized, with C. M. Keck as Secretary and Treasurer and Mr. Shaf- fer as President. The company is now operating four paintmills, one in Allentown, and the others in different parts of Pennsylvania. Their manu- factories are equipped with the latest and best im- proved machinery, and they furnish employment to a number of men. Their paints and ochre are sold throughout the United States and Canada, and they are now doing a very extensive business.
In 1872 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Butz, a daugliter of Manassus Butz, of Lehigh County. Five children grace this union : Eliza J., Minna R., Manassus W., Ella M. and Ed- gar B. Mr. Shaffer is a member of the Salem Re- formed Church, with which he has been connected since its organization, nineteen years ago, and has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school for a period extending over eighteen years. Under his capable and efficient management it is now the
largest denominational Sunday-school in the coun- ty. His time and attention have been largely taken up by his business interests, yet he never slights his duties of citizenship, and finds time to devote to church and benevolent work. He is a man of sterling worth and strict integrity, and the many excellences of his character have gained for him the high regard of all.
ILLIAM WALTERS, M. D., one of the prominent young physicians of North- ampton County, is recognized as a man of superior attainments, and one well calculated to add fresh laurels to the profession to which he devotes his time and talents. He was born in this county, September 23, 1865, and is the son of Dr. B. C. Walters, a prominent physician of this locality, and a native of Northampton County. The grandfather of Dr. William Walters was a farmer by occupation, and fought as a soldier dur- ing the War of 1812. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and lived to be seventy years of age. His wife lived to the advanced age of one hundred and five years, dying in November, 1894, at Easton. Prior to her marriage she was known as Mary Boenstein.
Dr. B. C. Walters is a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College, receiving his diploma in 1859. He immediately located for practice in Farmers- ville, this county, where he is still residing. The mother of our subject prior to her marriage was Camilla Bruner. She was born in Lower Saucon, this county, and was the daughter of Jacob Bruner, also a native of that place, where he was engaged in farm pursuits. The parental fam- ily included four sons and four daughters, who grew to mature years. Robley D., also a physician, is engaged in practice in Easton; Mitchell, a phy- sician of prominence, resides in South Bethleliem, and Jacob B. is a student in Easton. William, who was the fifth in order of birth, carried on his primary studies in Trach's Academy at Easton, from which institution he was graduated in 1885. The same year he entered Lafayette College, and,
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after finishing the scientific course, accepted the position of civil engineer in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, locating at Mauch Chunk, and during the year in which he worked for that company he laid out several branches of their road and located the loop at Al- len town.
Although being engaged as a civil engineer for some time, Dr. Walters found time to keep up his medical studies, it being his ambition to follow in the footsteps of his honored father and older brothers. In the fall of 1888 he entered the Jef- ferson Medical College in Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1890. When looking around for a suitable location, Dr. Walters began practice in Bethlehem, very soon built up a lucrative pa- tronage, and is classed among thie most skilful of the profession in this section.
Dr. William Walters was married in Philadel- phia, in 1892, to Miss Jennie, daughter of Theodore F. Lawall, now deceased. Socially he is a Knight of Honor, and in politics a strong Democrat. Hc is connected by membership with Grace Luth- eran Church, and is found to be a liberal contrib- utor toward all good works.
EORGE ALLEN CHANDLER is a mem- ber of a very old family in Pennsylvania, and is one of its most worthy representa- tives. He has made his home for several years in Bethlehem, Northampton County, where he has been in the employ of the Bethlehem Iron Company and has also done outside work. He is at the pres- ent time engineer in charge of the crection of the new works for the making of ordnance and armor.
In the latter part of the seventeenth century George Chandler, who was born in Wiltshire, England, started for America with his wife and seven children, and died at sea. His family con- tinued the journey, landing at Philadelphia in 1687. For a time they lived in a cave on the Dela- ware Front, but later built a house on Apple Tree Alley, between Arch and Cherry, Fifth and Sixth Streets. This house was recently standing, and was considered one of the very oldest in Philadel-
phia, there being probably only one older, the Letitia House, formerly the residence of William Penn.
The Chandlers were English Quakers. The one son, William, from whom our subject is descended, was born in Gret Hodge, Wiltshire, England. He had married, December 10, 1712, Ann Bowater, the daugliter of Jolin and Frances Bowater, at Christ Church, Philadelphia, and died in 1746, at London Grove Meeting House. His son William, the next in the line of descent, was born in London Grove Township, Chester County, Pa., March 1, 1717, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Mrs. Rebecca (Allen) Mode, and dicd February 28, 1795. His wife was a daughter of John Allen, who came from Ireland in 1714, and their son, Allen, was born in London Grove, October 31, 1759. He, too, was a farmer, and took part in the War of the Revolution. For his wife he married Sarah Pyle, daughter of Joseph and Alice Pyle, of an old Quaker family from Wiltshire, England. Allen Chandler dicd December 24, 1837, and his son, Allen, Jr., was also born in London Grove, July 12, 1798. He kept an hotel in West Chester, and died at Doe Run, in the same county, January 8, 1876. He married Mary, daughter of Dr. David Eaton, who was of Welsh descent, his ancestors having settled in Philadelphia County about 1686, and helped establish the Pennepack Church, the first and oldest Baptist Church in the state. One of the next generation, Joseph, became a minister in that denomination in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, and his son, Isaac, also a Baptist minis- ter, started the first academy for the education of youth for the ministry in America. The son of Isaac, Dr. David Eaton, was the father of Mary Eaton, previously mentioned.
Allen and Mary (Eaton) Chandler's third child was Isaac, who was born July 26, 1824, in Mary- land. He married Katherine Fritz, who was born in Highland Township, Chester County. She be- came tlie mother of two children: George Allen, the subject of this biography; and Mary Gertrude, now Mrs. Axel Sahlin, who resides is Baltimore. The mother was a daughter of George and Mary (Meharg) Fritz, the former born in Hesse-Cassel, while the latter was of English and Irish descent.
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Mr. Fritz was a well-to-do farmer and merchant in Chester County. Isaac Chandler was a blacksmith by trade, and in 1848, in company with John and George Fritz and Frank Stroud, helped to estab- lish the Union Foundry at Catasauqua, and con- tinued there until 1854. At that time he went to Johnstown, Pa., where he had charge of the black- smith shop of the Cambria Iron Company until 1861, when he was made Postmaster under Lin- coln. Resigning at the end of that administration, he became a shipping clerk for the Cambria Iron Company of Johnstown, and held that place until he resigned and retired from business, in January, 1892. In 1864 he was a delegate to the National Convention from Cambria County which met at Baltimore and nominated Lincoln for his second term.
George Allen Chandler was born in Johnstown, September 8, 1858, and received such educational advantages as were afforded by the public schools of the place. On leaving his studies he served an apprenticeship of three years as a machinist in the Cambria Iron Works, and then attended Chambers- burg Academy for two years, under the instruction of the late Dr. J. H. Shumaker. For a year he was then in the State Normal at West Chester. The two succeeding years Mr. Chandler spent in the erection department of the Edgar Thompson Steel Works at Pittsburg. In September, 1881, he came to Bethlehem and was employed in the drafting- room of the Bethlehem Iron Company for five years. Since that time he has been actively en- gaged in the construction of the new armor and ordnance works, and during the thirteen years which have elapsed since he became identified with the great company in whose employ he still is he has been esteemed one of their most valued workers and reliable inen.
In Chambersburg, Mr. Chandler was married, December 27, 1881, to Miss Florence M. White, and they have had four sons and one daughter, namely: Gertrude, Allen, George, David (deceased) and Daniel. Mrs. Chandler was born in Chambersburg, and is a daughter of George W. White, a veteran of the Mexican War, and who is now a wholesale dealer in oil, his territory being the Cumberland Valley.
A very active Republican, Mr. Chandler has for three years been a Councilman from the First Ward, and is Chairman of the Light Committee and a member of several others. He was a mem- ber of the Joint Committee of the Bethlehemn Council to plan the celebration of the Sesqui- Centennial in 1892. Mrs. Chandler is a member of the Episcopal Church, and Mr. Chandler of the Moravian Church. Socially he is a member of the Royal Arcanum. His pleasant home at No. 360 Market Street was erected by him in 1886. The Chandler family celebrated their bi-centennial an- niversary in Birmingham Township, on the Brandy- wine, in September, 1887, and over fourteen hun- dred of the descendants were present.
H ARRY E. HELLER. This gentleman, who is one of the energetic and enterprising young men of Allentown, holds the posi- tion of agent of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in this city. He is a native of Allen- town, and was born July 12, 1862. €
Peter Heller, father of our subject, was a son of John Heller, whose ancestors came across the At- lantic with eighty Palatine familics on the ship " Mortonhouse, " August 24, 1728, settling in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pa. He was born on the 17th of September, 1816, in Forks Township, in the same county. He assisted his father in working the farm, one of the most flour- ishing in that section, until he reached the age of eighteen years, when he left home to face the world and seek his fortune elsewhere. Locating in one of the central counties of the state of New York, he there took up the trade of blacksmithing, which he followed successfully for four years, when he removed to Allentown, Pa., in the year 1838. This place he chose for his future home, and here he was married in April, 1841, to Anna Hartz, daughter of George Hartz, at that time the leading builder and contractor of the town, of which the Hartz family were amongst the earliest settlers.
Mr. Heller, after reaching Allentown, opened and conducted one of the most successful black-
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smithing shops in eastern Pennsylvania, contin- uing thus until 1854, when he was compelled to retire on account of failing health. About this time there was an opportunity offered him to pur- chase one of the finest livery establishments in Allentown, which opportunity he accepted. He at once added a stage line, secured the contract from the United States Government to carry its mails to and from the depot (the Lehigh Valley Railroad having just opened up its road for busi- ness about this time) and at the same time he re- ceived the contract from the Hope Express Com- pany (now the Adams) to do their hauling of express goods. In 1864, tiring of the livery busi- ness, he again went to blacksmithing, continuing until he was seventy-three years of age, when he retired permanently from business. In 1871 he was elected to the office of Treasurer of his county for a term of two years. He also served as a member of both branches of the City Council at dif- ferent times. Mr. Heller reared a family of eight children, four boys and four girls, seven of whom are living. He is still, at the age of seventy-eight, enjoying good health, is robust and jovial, and has a pleasant word for all his friends.
Harry E. received his education in the city schools of his native place, and on reaching his thirteenth year entered the employ of the Adams Express Company, remaining with them for a period of eleven years. July 1, 1886, he accepted the position of clerk of the freight and ticket department of the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Allentown, but was obliged to offer his resignation to that company in November of the same year, owing to his appointment as Traveling Passenger Agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, to succeed Col. R. W. Gillespie, who in turn had been made General Southern Agent, with headquarters at New Orleans. Mr. Heller in his present position has charge of the passenger and freight interests for the above company through the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and south- ern New York. He possesses a thorough knowl- edge of railroading in its many branches, and is fully qualified to be the incumbent of his present responsible position.
For six years previous to 1886, our subject was
in the employ of the above road, having charge of the correspondence and advertising for the agent who was located here, most of the work of which position he accomplished at night. The lady to whom he was married, December 8, 1891, was Miss Emma D., daughter of John S. and Jennie (Walker) Thomas, of Detroit, Mich. She was born June 30, 1864, in Detroit, Mich., and by her union with our subject has become the mother of two sons, Ed- ward Peter and Thomas Hartz.
Politically a Democrat, our subject takes a lead- ing part in local matters, and is well posted on all issues of the hour. He is a member of Barger Lodge No. 333, F. & A. M. He occupies a promi- nent place among the railroad men of the county, and has an extensive acquaintance with that class throughout the East and West. Mr. Heller and his family occupy a fine residence at No. 1145 Walnut Street, and few people in the county are more widely, and none more favorably known than they.
H OWARD R. KNECHT belongs to one of the best and oldest families of Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County, and for many years has occupied a high position in the social, political and business circles of the com- munity. He is the sole owner of one of the most important industries in this region, the roller flour- ing-mills located at Shimersville, which he operates under the name of John Knecht's Son. Our sub- ject possesses in a marked degree the traits of char- acter which made his father so highly esteemed and successful in life.
The Knecht family in the last century resided in the Palatinate, Germany. His ancestor, John Jacob Knecht, with fifty-nine of his neighbors and rela- tives, started on a sailing-vessel, "The Allen," James Cragie, master, from Rotterdam, in Septem- ber, 1734, and became settlers in Williams Town- ship, this county. A son of John Jacob, Jonas George was born May 5, 1740, and died February 21, 1823. His wife, Anna Maria, was born Sep- tember 29, 1752, and died February 12, 1813. Their son John, our subject's grandfather, was
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born July 1, 1778, and married Sarah Ruth Stah- ler, whose birth occurred September 10, 1782. The former died September 17, 1814, while his wife lived until October 5, 1827.
John Knecht, the next in line of descent, was born in Williams Township, August 5, 1814, be- ing the second son in the family. His mother died when he was very young, and his father's death occurred when he was a lad of twelve years. His uncle, Aaron Knecht, of Williams Township, took charge of him and brought him up on his farm, training him in thrifty and industrious ways, to which traits he owed the foundation of his large fortune in after years. He received his education in a private school held in the Spring House, two and a-half miles below Easton, near the Black Horse Tavern on the Delaware.
Afterward he apprenticed himself to learn the carpenter's trade with John Seiple, who later re- moved to Ohio, where he died. Mr. Knecht fol- lowed the trade until twenty-one years of age, when he went to North Carolina and engaged in railroad contract work between Raleigh and Gas- ton. In 1839 he returned to the scenes of his early manhood, and February 2, 1841, was married to Eliza E., daugliter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Riegel, the wedding taking place in the old house at Shimersville. The marriage ceremony was per- formed by Rev. Mr. Becker. Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Knecht took possession of the old gristmill at Shimersville, which was built by Na- than Irish in 1735, and the farmers of all this sec- tion round about in the eighteenth century car- ried their grain therc to be ground. This is shown by the fact that in 1743 the Moravians of Bethle- hem petitioned the court to open a road from that place to the Saucon mill, which was done. Mr. Irish, several years later, sold the mill and land to George Cruikshank, of Philadelphia. After his death, his son-in-law, John Currie, a Reading law- yer, retired from the practice of law and removed to the Cruikshank lands, now Shimersville, occu- pying the old stone house on the hill in which the late John Knecht resided. He subsequently sold the entire property to Jacob Shimer, who in 1816 erected the present mill close by the old one. His son, Isaac B. Shimer, operated it until 1832, when
it was again sold, this time to Samuel Leidigh. In 1836 Benjamin Riegel purchased the property, and in the year 1842 it passed into the possession of the late Jolin Knecht, Mr. Riegel's son-in-law. Mr. Knecht operated the mill until 1890, improv- ing it a great deal during this time, and then turned the business over to his son Howard, who now runs it.
He was for several years a Director of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, of which he was always a firm friend, having warmly favored and encour- aged the construction of the road. He enjoyed the personal friendship of its projector, Asa Packer, and rendered him every assistance in his power in the consummation of his project. Upon the comple- tion of the railroad, Mr. Knecht, who was a man of great business foresight, realized the benefits which would accrue to the whole valley from it, and at his suggestion that an iron furnace in the vicinity of Bethlehem would grow in prosperity and importance, he enlisted the co-operation of a number of capitalists, among whom were Augustus Wolle, Charles W. Rauch and Charles B. Daniel, all long since deccased, and the great Bethlehem Iron Company was established, Mr. Knecht be- ing a Director in the company from that time (1859) up to the date of his decease. In 1872 he organized the Northampton Iron Company, and was elected President of the same. A large fur- nace was built near Frecmansburg, and is now oper- ated by the Bethlehem Iron Company. He was also a Director in the Easton National Bank, and held many offices of trust, being executor, admin- istrator and guardian for many of his friends. He was a member of the Reformed Church, and car- ried into his daily life its worthy teachings. Many a poor man owes to him substantial assistance, ad- vice and help. He was a stanch Democrat, and though at one time solicited to run for Congress, emphatically declined, preferring to live a quiet life.
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