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 14

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 14
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 14
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 14

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ated a good farm in the same vicinity. Mrs. Myers has always been an active worker in the Lutheran Church. By her marriage she became the mother of seven children, all but one of whom are living. Emily is the wife of James Ellis, of Pottsville, Pa .; George H. is the next in order of birth; Nancy, whose home is in Bethlehem, is the widow of F. C. Mattes; L. Richmond is an attorney-at-law in Beth- Ichem, Pa .; Jacob U. is likewise a resident of Beth- lehem; and William B. is a teller in the First Na- tional Bank, of which our subject is President.

Until twelve years of age our subject continued to reside on his father's farm, where his birth oc- curred August 26, 1843. In 1855 his father be- came associated with his brother-in-law, John B. McCreary, in coal-mining, and removed to Tre- mont, Schuylkill County, Pa., where the family re- sided for one year and then removed to Audenried, Carbon County, where the mines known as the Honey Brook were situated. At that place young Mycrs clerked in the firm's store and attended school. In August, 1860, he entered Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport, and was a student there for nearly four years; he then entered Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he took the full commercial course. Returning home in the spring of 1865, on his father's death in Sep- tember of that year, in the fifty-first year of his age, le succeeded him as a Director in the Honey Brook Coal Company, in which the senior Mr. Myers had had an interest.

At this time, in the fall of 1865, commenced the active career of G. H. Myers, and he remained in the coal company until its valuable plant was sold to the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Though the young man had scarcely more than reached his majority, the management of his father's large es- tate was entrusted to him. He soon became much interested in coal mines, and in 1868 the firm of A. L. Mumper & Co. was organized, and was soon considered one of the leading coal firms in the Lehigh region. Ten years having expired and the senior partner having died, the firm name was changed to Thomas John & Co., and again in 1880, on Mr. John's demise, the firm name was altered to George H. Myers & Co. To-day Mr. Myers is considered one of the leading business men of the

Lehigh, Schuylkill and Wyoming Valleys, being in- terested in industrial enterprises located there.

Having for many years been before the public as a man of energy and ability, and one who was ever active in the promotion of industries and improve- ments, Mr. Myers was in 1877 elected Councilman of the borough of Bethlehem, serving until 1880, when he was made Burgess. In his official capaci- ties he has shown the same convictions of right and honor that he has always manifested in his private affairs, and nothing can swerve him from the path of duty. In 1882, after earnest solicita- tion from his friends, he allowed his name to go before the county convention as a candidate for State Senator, and though he was announced late in the day he received a flattering vote in the con- vention and then withdrew, joining his forces to those of J. S. Hess, thus nominating him on the fourth ballot.

In January, 1874, Mr. Myers became a Director in the First National Bank of Bethlehem, and six years later was chosen its President, which posi- tion he has filled ever since. The firm of George H. Myers & Co. sold their interest in the Spring Brook Colliery in May, 1892, but our subject still remains in the business in connection with other collieries, being Treasurer of the Mid-Valley Coal Company, Secretary and Treasurer of the Alton Coal Company, and a Director in the Silver Brook - Coal Company. He is Vice-President of the Pon- upo Mining and Transportation Company, a Cuban enterprise, and is Secretary and Treasurer of the Pioneer Mining and Manufacturing Company of Thomas, Ala., besides being a Director in the Allen- town & Bethlehem Rapid Transit Company.

In Bethlehem the marriage of our subject and Miss Caroline Weiss was celebrated in 1873. The lady was born on Summit Hill, Pa., and is a daugh- ter of Francis Weiss, a large coal operator, who is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have a family comprising the following children: Frank J., a member of the Class of '98 in Lehigh Univer- sity; Emily R., who is attending school at Berlin, Germany; Katie W. and Caroline W., who gradu- ated from the high school in 1894, and are also at Berlin; and Helen D., George H., Jr., Legh R. and Edward L., who complete the number. Mr. Myers

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is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having at- tained the Thirty-second Degree. He is a mem- ber of the lodge and chapter of Bethlehem, Hugh DePayens Commandery, K. T., and of Blooms- berry Consistory. He is also an Elder and active member in Grace Lutheran Church.

R OBERT W. YOUNG, M. D., is one of the oldest and most prominent physicians and surgeons in Slatington, where he has been established since 1875. He is a native of Carbon County, having been born at Lehigh Gap Decem- ber 4, 1847. His father, Jacob Young, was a na- tive of Northampton County, this state, and de- parted this life in 1851. The first of our subject's ancestors to come to America emigrated from Ger- many at an early day, and made a settlement in the Lehigh Valley. The maiden name of our sub- ject's mother was Elizabeth Mummey. She was also born in Northampton County, the daughter of Jacob Mummey, and died in 1881.

Robert W., of this sketch, removed from his na- tive place in childhood, and spent his boyhood days in Musselman's school district, Northampton Coun- ty, receiving liis primary education in the common schools of that place. Wlien a lad of thirteen years he was sent to Weaversville Academy, in Northampton County, where he pursued his studies for a timc, and later taught school. He then en- tered the State Normal School at Kutztown, and was graduated from that institution with the Class of '71.

In the above year our subject began reading medicine, and at the same time was engaged in the profession of a school teacher. In the spring of 1872 he entered the office of Dr. H. O. Wilson, of Slatington, a prominent physician of this city, and when far enough advanced in medical lore, took a course of lectures at the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in March, 1875. He immediately located in Slating- ton for the practice of his profession, and has since made this place his home. He is conducting a very large business, by reason of his superior skill

and knowledge as a physician, and is now, and has been for many years, Examining Physician for the old-line life insurance companies. In 1888 he became established in the drug business, and now has one of the most reliable and finest-stocked stores in the city. He lias been engaged in vari- ous other business enterprises, and was one of the organizers of the Slatington Rolling Mill Com- pany, in which he is a stockholder at the present time.

Socially our subject is a member of the Lehigh County Medical Society, of which he was Prest- dent for some time. He is now serving in the capacity of Vice-President of that socicty, with which he has been connected for many years. He also holds membership with the State Medical As- sociation and with the Lchigh Valley Medical Association. In politics our subject is a strong Democrat.

The Odd Fellows' lodge finds in Dr. Young a valued member, lie belonging to Slatington Lodge No. 624, and Encampment No. 231. He is also a charter member of Slatington Castle No. 206, Knights of the Golden Eagle, and a charter mem- ber of Star of the North Commandery No. 92, Ancient and Illustrious Order Knights of Malta. He was elected a life member of the Supreme Grand Commandery, Ancient and Illustrious Order Knights of Malta of the Continent of America. He is also a charter member of Slatington Lodge No. 1813, K. of H., and a member of the Col- lege of the Ancients, and Deputy Grand Com- mander for the Eighteenth District, including Mauch Chunk, Lehighton, Northampton and Slatington, with headquarters at the latter place.

August 29, 1877, Dr. Young and Miss Ella J. R. Kuntz were united in marriage. The lady is the daughter of Moses and Leah (Wert) Kuntz, and by her union with the Doctor has become the mother of two daughters and one son: Lizzie May, Olive Mildred and Ralph W., the latter de- ceased. Mrs. Young was a sister of the late Henry A. Kuntz, a bright and promising young man, who met his sad fate in the railroad wreck ncar Lehigh Gap, on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, in December, 1880. She is also a sister of Cyrus Kuntz, one of Allentown's most prosperous young men, being

COL. ROLLIN H. WILBUR.

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proprietor and editor of the Daily City Item, in Allentown, which is the largest circulating me- dium in Lehigh County.

The Doctor has two sisters, Mrs. E. A. Kich- line and Mrs. Mary A. Birchey, both enjoying health and desirable homes. Of his two brothers, Charles W., with a bright future before him, was suddenly stricken with typhoid fever in 1856 and succumbed to the disease; while James H. entercd the army as a volunteer at the call to arms in 1862, was at once assigned to the office of Orderly- Sergeant of Company G, One Hundred and Fifty- third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and in defense of his country fell at the battle of Gettys- burg, Pa., July 1, 1863.

The Doctor and his wife are members in good standing of the Lutheran Church, and have a beautiful home in the city, where they entertain in a right royal style a host of warm friends.

OL. ROLLIN HENRY WILBUR is General Superintendent of the Lehigh Valley Rail- road, and in 1891 was appointed Lieutenant- Colonel on the staff of Governor Pattison, of Pennsylvania. In February, 1894, he was elected a member of the Borough Council of Fountain Hill, in which place he has his residence. In many of the leading corporations, enterprises and indus- tries of Northampton County and of eastern Penn- sylvania, he has long been prominently identified, and his financial sagacity and foresight being gen- erally known, his name is a guarantee of success.

Colonel Wilbur was born in Bethlehem, Septem- ber 3, 1863, his parents being Elisha Packer and Stella (Abbott) Wilbur. The former was a native of Mystic, Conn., born January 31, 1833, a son of Henry and Eveline Wilbur, the latter of whom was a sister of Judge Asa Packer, late of Pennsyl- vania. When Elisha Wilbur was six years old his father removed to the Lehigh Valley, joining his fortunes with those of his now illustrious kinsman, Judge Packer. The lad attended school for some time, and after completing his studies was fur- nished employment by the Judge at the Nesque- honing Mines, where he attained to a responsible

position, and there remained until 1851. After leav- ing that position he was for five months a student at Woodbridge Hall, Perth Amboy, N. J., and then, returning to his uncle's employ, he lived in Mauch Chunk until 1856. During this time he assisted Robert H. Sayre, a civil engineer, in sur- veying the route of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Afterwards he kept the accounts of Judge Packer, disbursing all the funds required by contractors ind others connected with the enterprise. In 1856 he en- tered the office of E. A. Packer & Co., in Phila- delphia, and remained there for several years. In 1870 he opened the banking house of E. P. Wilbur & Co., in South Bethlehem. He has been active in many corporations and has held the office of Bur- gess of South Bethlehem. At the present time he is connected with the Lehigh Valley Railroad as President of that justly celebrated and paying cor- poration.

Rollin Henry Wilbur was educated in a private school, and in Mt. Pleasant Military Academy at Sing Sing, N. Y., where he was located from 1876 to 1880. In the latter year he entered Lehigh University and took a special four-years course. In 1884 he entered the service of the Lehigh Val- ley Railroad, being in the office of H. Stanley Goodwin, General Superintendent, for two years. He was then made Assistant to the General Super- intendent, and in 1888 became Assistant to the Sec- ond Vice-President. When the Lehigh Valley was leased to the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad in 1892, he became assistant to A. A. McLeod, Presi- dent and General Manager, and the same year was given the position of Assistant to the Third Vice- President of the Philadelphia & Reading Road, with authority to act as Third Vice-President in the absence of that officer.

January 1, 1893, Colonel Wilbur was appointed General Superintendent of the Eastern Division of the Philadelphia &. Reading system, and in March, 1894, the territory was extended to cover all railroad lines of the Lehigh Valley, this having returned to its old management. When the office of General Manager of the Lehigh Valley was abolished, May 1, 1894, our subject was given en- tire charge of the operating department, and also of the Lehigh Valley Transportation Company.

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He is a Director in the Lehigh Valley, the Easton & Amboy, and the Easton & Northwestern Rail- road Companies, and is also a Director in the E. P. Wilbur Trust Company, the Sayre Metal Company, the Sayre Water Company, the Sayre Land Com- pany, the Lehigh Valley Creosoting Company, the Eynon-Evans Manufacturing Company, and others. In addition to those named he is President of the Glenn Summit Hotel and Land Company, the Le- high Valley Creosoting Company, and the Eynon- Evans Manufacturing Company. In the American Institute of Mining Engineers he is interested as a member, belongs to the Military Service Institute of the United States, and is a Director of the Mc- Clelland Memorial Association; he is also a mem- ber of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution, and Director of the New York Light- erage and Transportation Company.

In 1884 Colonel Wilbur married Nanny, daugli- ter of the late Hon. Robert A. Lamberton, LL. D., President of Lehigh University, and they have two daughters, Dorothy and Isabel.

)ILLIAM H. JACOBS, part owner in the Excelsior Knitting Machine Man- ufacturing Company, is a practical ma- chinist, and with his partners, E. A. Hirner and A. F. Henninger, ranks among the prominent bus- iness men of South Bethlehem. Their plant is lo- cated on Birch Street and is one of the important industries of the Lehigh Valley. Our subject was born in Allentown February 26, 1859, and is the son of Aaron P. Jacobs, whose birth occurred near Schnecksville, the above county. The great-grand- father of our subject, who bore the name of Chris- tian Jacobs, was a native of Germany, whence he came to the United States when eighteen years of age, and later participated in the Revolutionary War. He located in the Lehigh Valley and pur- chased land from William Penn, which is still in possession of the family.

Aaron P. Jacobs was a miller by trade, which branch of business he followed successfully for many years. He was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church and bore well his part in church

work. The maiden name of his wife was Anna M. Gaumer, daughter of Jolin A. Gaumer, who was a farmer by occupation and possessed fine iron ore mines on his estate. The parents of our subject reared a family of three children, of whom William H. was the eldest but one. He grew to manhood in Allentown and took a thor- ough course in the public schools of that city, and later attended Blackman's Business College.

Upon attaining his seventeenth year our subject began learning the trade of a miller in his father's mill located at Bethlehem. He worked under a superintendent for four years and was then given charge of the plant, which he operated for three years. In 1882 he went to Easton, and for eigh- teen months worked at the machinist's trade, after which he accepted a position in the Excelsior Knitting Mill at Bethlehem. He was soon pro- moted to be Master Mechanic in the silk mills of that city, which position he held for a period of seven years.

In February, 1893, the original of this sketch formed a partnership with E. A. Hirner and A. F. Henninger and established tlic Excelsior Knitting Machine Manufacturing Company, having their plant located at No. 14 South Church Street, Allentown. In February of the following year, however, they changed their location to this city, now occupying the block which our subject erected in the fall of 1893. The building, 80x54 feet in di- mensions, is three stories in height, with a basement, which is occupied by the machinery. They have a fifty-five-horsc-power boiler with a twenty-five- horse-power engine. The first floor is devoted to the manufacturing interests of the company, and the second and third floors are rented to C. & J. Gould for their knitting works. The Excelsior Knitting Machine Manufacturing Company give employment to thirty-five men, and their shops have a capacity of turning out from thirty-five to forty knitting machines each week. They find a ready market for the machine, which was invented and patented by Mr. Hirner and which is shipped to all points in the United States.

The marriage of our subject occurred in this city February 13, 1883, at which time he was united with Miss Emma J. Foltz, a native of Sau-

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con. Socially Mr. Jacobs is an Odd Fellow, be- longing to the Wreath of Friendship in this city, also to the Knights of Pythias. He is likewise con- nected with the Order of Red Men and the Royal Arcanum. He has been a resident of South Beth- lehem since 1883, and has made many warm friends in this community. He is a devoted member of the Reformed Church, and in politics is a stanch Republican. Mr. Jacobs is the owner of considera- ble real estate in the city, having four residences located on Fourth and Birch Streets and four on Fifth and Spruce Streets. He takes a part in every reform and assists by his presenec, purse and influ- ence in all improvements for the benefit of the city.

RANK W. WEIL. The active business in- terests of Allentown have no better rep- resentative than this gentleman, who is proprictor of the Union Steam Planing Mills, which turn out all kinds of building materials. In addition to that enterprise he also operates a carpet-cleaning establishment, conducting busi- ness at No. 1031 Linden Street. The firm of F. W. Weil & Co. gives employment to about thirty men, and occupies a building 34x230 feet in di- mensions and three stories in height. They also manufacture wood mantels and grilles and do a large and lucrative business.

Our subject is a native of New York City, where his birth occurred August 2, 1848. He is the son of George P. and Caroline (Myers) Weil, natives of Germany, the former of whom was a prosperous business man of New York. In 1854 the father came to Allentown, where he was prominent in commercial circles and where he resided until his decease, which occurred in 1887, when in his eiglity-third year. The mother of our subject is also deceased, having departed this life in 1876, in Allentown.

Frank W. Weil, of this sketch, was the youngest member of his parents' family of nine children, only four of whom are living. He passed his boyhood and youth in New York City, where he was given a good education, supplementing the

knowledge gained in the common schools by a course of study in the Allentown Seminary and Lititz College, Lancaster County, Pa. Later he en- tered the business college of Bryant & Stratton in Brooklyn, and graduated from that college in 1869. In 1870 Mr. Weil came to Allentown and at once established himself in his present business. He is regarded as one of those men of progressive ideas who endeavor to keep pace with the latest methods in the way of machinery in his line, and by so doing has built up a large trade.

August 11, 1870, our subject and Miss Sally Wenner were united in marriage. The lady was born in Allentown and is a daughter of Peter and Maria E. Wenner, old settlers of Allentown. They have had born to them a family of six children, whom they are cducating in the best possible man- ner and fitting to become good and useful citizens.

In politics Mr. Weil is a Democrat, and in social affairs belongs to Barger Lodge No. 333, F. & A. M. He is also a prominent member of Greenleaf Lodge No. 257, K. of P., in which order he has held all of the offices. He is a consistent member of the Lutheran Church, worshiping with the congrega- tion of St. Michael's. Mr. Weil occupies a good residence at No. 1036 Linden Street, where, with his good wife, he entertains their host of warm friends.

F RANK J. SHERER. To successfully edit a daily paper is by no means an easy task, as many anxious and harassed newspaper men can testify. It requires more patience, perse- verance and tact than almost any other undertak- ing. When, therefore, it is said that Mr. Sherer has met with flattering success as editor of the Al- lentown Chronicle and News, no slight praise is bestowed upon him. The paper is well known throughout this section of the state as a zealous advocate of local interests, and an intelligent ad- vocate of all progressive measures, and its editor- ials attract no little attention.

Referring directly to the life record of Mr. Sherer, we find that he was born in Snydersville, Lchigh County, Pa., January 30, 1853, and is a

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son of Edward and Anna (Snyder) Sherer, the former an expert millwright in his day. Frank J. received the advantages of the common schools of the home locality, and after coming to Allentown in 1862 was a student at this place. He was graduated from the high school in 1869, being one of the three members of the first elass ever gradu- ated therefrom.

In January, 1870, several months before the Chronicle was founded, he entered the employ of Robert Iredell, Jr., then the editor and proprietor of a weekly paper, the Lehigh Register, and whose name afterward beeame indissolubly connected with the present publication. There he began at the foot of the ladder, but, entering upon the work with diligenec, soon gained a thorough knowl- edge of every department, first entering the press- rooms, thence going into the composing-room, and afterward spending two years in the job office.

In the spring of 1873, Hon. J. S. Biery, who at that time represented the Lehigh-Montgomery dis- trict in Congress, appointed Mr. Sherer a cadet at West Point. He was successful in passing the cx- amination, but his father's failing health eaused him to decline the position. In December, 1875, he succeeded D. B. Wood as local editor of the Chronicle, to which much of his time has sinee been devoted. In the winter of 1883 he was employed in the secret service of the United States Govern- ment, securing evidenee in the "tissue ballot" frauds perpetrated in South Carolina. The work was of a hazardous and delicate nature, requiring the utmost taet on the part of the agent. He proved fully equal to the emergeney, displaying such skill in the discharge of his duties that he was presented with a valuable testimonial by Judge Melton, the United States Attorney, and his spec- ial assistant, Gen. William P. Snyder.

Resuming his position on the paper in May, 1883, Mr. Sherer has since retained his connection with this able publication. Since the death of Robert Iredell, Jr., in October, 1893, he has been manager of the Chronicle, and is also one of the executors of the Iredell estate. In addition to his other duties he has for many years been corres- pondent of New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburg and Cleveland papers. A Philadelphia paper, in pre-

senting a sketch of his life, says that "he wields a vigorous pen, is never prolix or verbose, and does not cloud or darken the wisdom of an article by an avalanche of extraneous or irrelevant matter. He has kept the paper abreast with the times, and as long as he fills his present position, the Chron- icle and News will not lag superfluous on the journalistic stage."

The marriage of Mr. Sherer occurred June 3, 1880, uniting him with Miss Laura G. Moyer, and they are the parents of one child, Parke. Mrs. Sherer is an accomplished lady and a member of one of Allentown's most prominent families. Her father, the late Tilghman H. Moyer, was for many ycars Cashier of the First National Bank, and in addition to being a prominent figure in financial circles, was also an influential and successful Sun- day-school worker. In politics Mr. Sherer is a staneh Republican, and takes rank among the in- fluential men of his party in this state.

ARRETT BRODHEAD LINDERMAN, son of the late Dr. G. B. Linderman, is a prom- inent eoal operator in Pennsylvania, his home being in South Bethlehem. Liberal and publie spirited, he has the hearty respeet and esteem of his fellow-townsmen, and has a brilliant future before him.

The birth of Mr. Linderman oeeurred November 17, 1864, at Mauch Chunk, Carbon County, in which city he continued to reside until the fall of 1870, when his parents, Dr. G. B. and Lucy Evelyn (Paekcr) Linderman, removed to South Bethlehem. A history of his father, and also of the maternal grandfather, Judge Asa Paeker, appears elsewhere on the pages of this volume. Attending the home sehools until the age of twelve, our subject ae- quired a good education, in the fall of 1876 enter- ing Mt. Pleasant Military Academy at Sing Sing, N. Y., where he took the full academic course, and graduated in June, 1881. Two years later he en- tered Lehigh University and graduated from there in 1887, with the degree of Bachelor of Philoso- phy. In the spring of 1891 Mr. Linderman organ- ized the firm of Garrett B. Linderman & Co., for

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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 14

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