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 16
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 16
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 16
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tion was effected August 17, 1893, and is consid- ered the most important station between Jersey City and Buffalo, N. Y., and in the local freight department in order to handle the volume of busi- ness transacted it is necessary to employ twenty- one men.
Mr. Bertolet continued to make his home in Al- lentown until 1893, when he removed his family to this city, his residence now being at No. 158 South New Street. It was in 1872, in Allentown. that he married Miss Ella Stetler, a native of that place. Her father, Henry Stetler, now de- ceased, was formerly a member of the firm of Seig- ler & 'Stetler, who were engaged in the harness business in Allentown. Fraternally, Mr. Bertolet is a member of the lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at Allentown, of which he is Past Master. He also belongs to the Royal Arch Masons, and to Allen Commandery, K. T. He is much inter- ested in the success of the Republican party, to which he gives his loyal support.
ICHARD DEEMER, formerly Commis- sioner of Northampton County, and who for many years has been one of the influ- ential citizens of Williams Township, is a native of the county where he now resides, born on the 18th of September, 1833. The Deemer family was one of the first to settle in Williams Township, and its members have for generations been active in aiding the development of its material resources. The first representative in America was our sub- ject's grandfather, Jacob Deemer, who, emigrating from Germany to the United States, settled in Northampton County. Here were born the par- ents of Richard, by name Jacob J. and Annie C. (Unangst) Deemer.
The subject of this biography gained a practical education in the common schools of Williams Town- ship and in Easton Academy, and after complet- ing his studies he commenced to teach school, which profession he followed for ten consecutive winter seasons. Meantime the summer months
were devoted to farm work, which calling he has made his principal life work, meeting with fair success in his undertakings in that line. He chose as his helpmate Miss Margaret A. Laubach, with whom he was united in 1857. Mrs. Deemer is the daughter of Abraham Laubach, late of Northamp- ton County, and by her marriage has become the mother of six children, namely: Milton; Sarah, who is the wife of Irvin Koplin; Amos; George; Annie and Jacob.
With the public life of the locality Mr. Deemer has been closely identified, and, a Democrat in pol- itics, las exercised considerable influence in behalf of his party in this community. For three years he held the position of School Director, and also served as Auditor of Williams Township, and as Road Supervisor for one year. For five years he filled the office of Justice of the Peace, and for one term was a member of the Board of Commissioners of Northampton County. His landed possessions aggregate two hundred and thirty acres of land, mostly improved, all of which has been accumulated through his persevering efforts, seconded by the assistance of his capable wife. In religious belief he is connected with the Reformed Church, and has served the congregation as Deacon and Elder, and at present holds the office of Trustee. He is a Director in the Durham Cemetery. Any measures having for their. object the promotion of the wel- fare of the people receive his warm sympathy and active support, and he is justly recognized as one of the foremost citizens of the township.
HARLES B. KRAUSE, an honored resident of Allentown, is a stockholder in and act- ive member of the C. A. Dorney Furniture Company, and the work he has done towards de- veloping its interests gives him a worthy place among the business men of the city. He was born in this city January 27, 1865, to Benjamin M. and Emeline (Goundie) Krause, natives respectively of Montgomery and Lehigh Counties.
Charles B. received his education in the public schools of his native place, and later took a course
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in the Allentown Business College. Upon begin- ning life on his own account, he engaged to work for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, witli which he remained for five and one-half years, in the capacity of clerk in the office of the Allentown Freighit Department of that road. During that period he acquired a thorough knowledge of the railroad business, and upon leaving their cmploy accepted a position with C. A. Dorney & Co. He is connected with the retail department, in which his work has been very satisfactory. Hc is also a stockholder in the company, and by strict integrity and natural ability has succeeded in building up a large and paying patronage. The establishment is fitted out with a large and varied stock, comprising all kinds of furniture, for which a ready sale is found in the city and surrounding country.
January 16, 1890, Mr. Krause was united in mar- riage with Miss S. Ella, daughter of Samuch and Harriet (Balliet) Fertig, natives of Pennsylvania. Their union has been blessed by the birth of two daughters, Harriet Marjorie and Emelinc Rutlı. In politics our subject is a stanchi Republican, and in social affairs is a member of the Masonic lodge, chapter, council, commandery and shrine. He is also connected with Allentown Lodge No. 130, Order of Elks, is a member of the Livingston Club, and President of Good Will Fire Company No 3. At all times he takes an active part in the ad- vancement of his city and county.
WEN B. SIGLEY, editor and proprietor of the Mauch Chunk Coal Gazette and Daily Times, has the honor of being a native of the Keystone State. He was born in Bethlehem on the 22d of December, 1841, and is a son of John and Mary (Stuber) Sigley, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. In the public schools of his native city he acquired his education and also attended a private school taught by Ben-
jamin Van Kirk. At the early age of thirteen years he began learning his trade, and since that time he has always been connected with the print- ing business in some capacity.
In 1861, when President Lincoln issued his call for seventy-five thousand volunteers, the subject of this sketch was among the first to enlist in the defense of his country. His first enlistment was in Company A, First Pennsylvania Regiment. At the expiration of the three months' service, he re- enlisted, joining Company C, Forty-sixth Pennsyl- vania Veteran Volunteers, for three years. He was promoted to Corporal, then to Orderly-Ser- geant, and later to Second Lieutenant. His regi- ment was first assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, Twelfth Army Corps, under command of Major-General Slocum, in the Army of the Po- tomac, and was engaged in the battles of Winches- ter, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, and other engagements in the Shenandoalı Valley.
After the battle of Gettysburg, in 1863, the Eleventli and Twelfth Corps were consolidated, and thereafter were known as the Twentieth Corps, under the command of Gen. Joseph Hooker (Fight- ing Joe) being transferred to Sherman's army. In Sherman's march to the sea, Mr. Sigley was wounded in the right leg, at the battle of Culp's Farm, Ga., June 16, 1864. He was taken to the Government Hospital at Nashville, Tenn., where he remained until able to report for duty. Re- joining his regiment at Atlanta, Ga., he marchicd with the command through Georgia, North Caro- lina and Virginia, and was mustered out of the service at Alexandria, Va., July 16, 1864.
At the close of hostilities Mr. Sigley returned to Bethlehem and entered the employ of the Mor- avian Publication office, where he remained until a more lucrative position was offered him, that of foreman of the Bethlehem Daily Times. Hc con- tinued there until the year 1869, wlien he launched into the newspaper business for himself. His first venture was the publication of the Weekly Progress, in South Bethlehem. This newspaper was a model of neatness, excelling in typographical appearance any publication in the Lehigh Valley. In estab- lishing this enterprise, Mr. Sigley was encour- aged and financially assisted by E. P. Wilbur, now
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President of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company; H. Stanley Goodwin, Superintendent of the Le- high Valley Railroad at that time; Robert H. Sayre, Sr., Second Vice-President of the same com- pany; John Smylic; Tinsley Jeter, and other lead- ing and influential citizens of the town. After issuing the Weekly Progress for one year, the pro- prietor converted it into a daily newspaper, suc- cessfully conducting the Morning Progress until 1874, when he sold the plant to C. O. Ziegenfuss. This property is now known as The South Bethle- hem Star, and is still one of the leading newspapers in the Lehigh Valley.
Retiring from business in South Bethlehem, Mr. Sigley in the same year removed to Washington, N. J., where he purchased the Star newspaper. This he conducted for a period of seven years, and then sold it at a handsome profit. In June, 1881, he removed to Mauch Chunk, the county seat of Carbon County, where he purchased the Mauch Chunk Coal Gazette, a Republican weekly newspa- per. Under his guidance, the Gazette became pros- perous, and to-day is looked upon as one of the most valuable and influential newspapers in the state. It is a ninc-column paper, filled with the news of the county, while its cditorial page is un- excelled.
In' 1883 Mr. Sigley, seeing the necessity of a daily newspaper in Carbon, began the publication of the Mauch Chunk Daily Times. The people of "the Switzerland" were not slow in showing their appreciation of the efforts of the enterprising publisher for their town and county, and as a re- sult the Daily Times is now an institution of the mountain town, known throughout the land for its magnificent scenery. From small beginnings the Times was forced to enlarge at different times, and to-day it is one of the best inland dailies in the statc. It is independent in politics, but all matters of public import are fully and fearlessly discussed. Mr. Sigley is a fair, honest, thoroughly determined newspaper man, and his publications are recog- nized as influential mediums, having now won a number of hard-fought political battles in Carbon County. His devotion to the public interests and the rights of the masses of the people has drawn to him the support of all classes of citizens, and
his newspapers are looked upon as household ne- cessities in Carbon. The Times circulates widely in the Mauch Chunks, while the Gazette reaches every town, hamlet and farm in the county.
Politically Mr. Sigley is a staneh advocate of the Republican party and its principles. He has la- bored earnestly in its behalf, doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. So- cially he is connected with L. F. Chapman Post No. 61, G. A. R. He is a wide-awake and pro- gressive citizen, and is held in high esteem in the community in which he lives.
H ON. ANDREW H. REEDER. The bio- graphical record of the prominent citi- zens and worthy pioneers of Northampton County would be very incomplete without the life history of Governor Reeder, as he has been called. His is a name that stands high in the annals of the Republic, and shines brightly upon the roll of Easton's noble dead. The family is of English origin. John Reeder emigrated to this country prior to 1856, and settled in Newton, L. I. His name is found on a list of residents of that place in that year. His son, John, went to Ewing, N. J., in the early part of the eighteenth century, and married Hannah, daughter of Jeremiah Burrough. They had a son, Isaac, who married Joanna Hunt, and their son, John, married Hannah Mershon. Among the children born of this marriage were Absalom Rceder, who married, October 16, 1788, Christiana Smith, of Easton, Pa. Of their union was born Andrew Horatio Reeder, July 12, 1807.
The lad just mentioned received an elementary education in the place of his birth, and completed his studies at Lawrenceville, N. J., graduating with honor. Having selected the law for liis pro- fession, he entered the office of IIon. Peter Ihrie, one of the prominent lawyers of Easton. Mr. Recder was admitted to the Bar of this county in 1828. In 1831 he married Miss Amelia Hutter, daughter of Christian J. Hutter. He soon became well known as a young man of ability and a ready
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speaker; and being industrious, ambitious and per- severing he rose rapidly in the public esteem as one of the leading advocates of the Bar.
From his early life our subject took great inter- est in the political affairs of his country; and, pos- sessed of a good voice, pleasing address and able argumentative powers, he was looked upon as one of the champions of Democracy of the Jeffersonian type. Without any effort or even knowledge on his part beforehand, he was offered the position of Governor of Kansas, and by this appointment be- eame prominent in one of the most important polit- ieal crises in the history of the Republic, and by his upright eonduet and faithfulness to the liberty and best interests of those whom he was sent to govern acquired politieal immortality The people of Kansas were divided into two parties, each of which was terribly in earnest. One was determined to establish slavery, the other to uphold freedom in the territory. From New England, two thou- sand miles away, people eame to make their homes on those distant and beautiful prairies; but also from the borders of Missouri came a hoard of marauders, armed with revolvers and rifles. At the first election they took possession of the polls, kept back the free-state voters, and elected the Legis- lature by fraud and violence. A committee came to Governor Reeder asking him to sign the eertif- icates of those claiming to be elected members of the Territorial Legislature. He courteously, but decidedly, refused. "Governor Reeder," said the committee, "we will give you fifteen minutes to sign these certifieates, resign, or be hanged." "Gentlemen, I need no fifteen minutes; my mind is made up. I shall hang," was the stern reply. He had worked too long and too hard for his reputa- tion to have it blasted by the stroke of his pen, and the boldness of liis answer saved him for the time from violence.
A Congressional Committee, consisting of Messrs. Howard, Shannon and Oliver, went to Kansas to examine into the condition of affairs. The eom- mittee ealled the Governor to the stand, and he explained the situation, fearlessly exposing the conduct of the border ruffians. Governor Reeder was later superseded by ex-Governor Shannon, of Ohio, who plainly told the people of Kansas in an
address on his arrival that he was in favor of slavery in the new state. This enraged the free- state men, and they repudiated Whitefield as their delegate in the Congress so fraudulently elected and chose Governor Reeder in his stead. There were two delegates elected to Congress, and the pro- slavery men saw this would necessitate a contest in the House, which they wished to avoid. Con- sidering that the best way under the eireumstances was to get Governor Reeder out of the way, he was marked for death while the committee was present. He was protected by his friends, but at last it was thought advisable for him to seek his own safety. Colonel Buford, of Alabama, went to Kansas City, and thence to Lawrence, with a regiment of well armed ruffians, recruited in South Carolina, whose avowed purpose was to aid the people of Missouri in making Kansas a slave state. They eneamped close at hand on the watch. That night Governor Reeder left Lawrence, and, proceeding to Kansas City, arrived there at three o'eloek in the morning. This fact became known in Buford's eamp quite early the same morning, and they were so enraged and chagrined that the hounds were let loose, roads were picketed, wagons were overhauled, steamboats searched, and every precaution taken to prevent the escape of the doughty Governor.
While the guests were at dinner at the Coates House, in Kansas City, some of Buford's men en- tered, and their sudden appearance brought every one to his feet. Colonel Eldridge, the proprietor, demanded their business, and they replied that they had come to search the house for Reeder; and when the Colonel asked for their authority, he was answered that they had no papers, only an order from headquarters. Colonel Eldredge re- plicd: "I will not resist any legal process, but you cannot search this house without it, unless you walk over the dead body of every man in it." He was promptly seconded and upheld in this by his guests. The marauders then swore they would get the authority to make the search. For two weeks Governor Reeder was conecaled in this ho- tel-weeks of anxious eare and watching on the part of his friends. After the sacking of Lawrenee and burning of the Free State Hotel, the ruffians
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returned to Kansas City, as they had suspicions that the Governor was concealed in the Coates House. The inmates were prepared for action, and danger seemed imminent. Through a strange provi- dence, however, a steamer lay at the wharf dis- charging her cargo, and it was whispered that the Captain was a free-state man. He was going up the river and would return on a certain day. The matter was arranged with the Captain to stop on the return trip at a certain place on a signal to take in a passenger. The hotel was under strict surveillance, every person emerging therefrom be- ing closely scanned, but it was arranged that the hunted hero should pass out of the hotel in dis- guise. The next day was the time to start, only one night intervening, but those were long, anx- ious, sleepless hours.
The following account of what followed was written by a lady who was an eye-witness of, and anxious participant in, the preparation for the Gov- ernor's departure: "The morning dawned bright and beautiful. This day was to be a decision for weal or woe for the Governor, and as the hour ap- proached our anxiety and excitement rose to fever heat. The time was close at hand when the Gov- ernor was to pass out from us, with the chances that he would ever return greatly against him. After he had dressed himself in his disguise, we all met in his room to bid him a last farewell. The disguise was complete, and turned our sorrow at parting to suppressed mirth. The Governor was cheerful, and even anxious, to cast the die. He gave us a specimen of acting in his new role which beggars description, and hield us for the time in capital humor, but at the last moment, when he left his room, there was not a dry eye in the party. The door was closed behind us, and the hero left to his own reflections and his own self-reliance.
"That evening, just before dark, an Irishman was seen to enter the office of the hotel dressed in a slouch hat, hickory shirt, blue overalls (so short as to expose a heavy pair of brogan shoes on his feet). carrying an axe on his shoulder and smoking a short clay pipe. He stopped but a moment, in- quired for work, if any wood were to be cut, or if he could be informed where he could get work. Not getting a satisfactory answer, he sauntered out
on the sidewalk, and repeated the inquiry of the bystanders, then moved off up the river, and disap- peared behind the bluff. At eleven o'clock that night, Edward S. Eldredge, a young brother of the landlord of the hotel, accompanied by his wife, strolled out for a walk, going up the river around the point of the bluff. Nearing the mouth of a cave, they encountered the Irishman, holding his axe in the attitude of attack. Eldredge called out to him not to strike, and with that he dropped his weapon and approached. They knew each other, and after a moment of hasty conversation the trio went down to the water's edge, got into a boat and floated gently down the stream to Randolph Land- ing, about five miles below the city. The steamer which was expected to take Governor Reeder down the river was to return this night, but did not reach Kansas City until near noon the next day. The Captain stood by the side of the pilot as the steamer gracefully started out into the stream, and when near Randolph Landing the Captain ordered the pilot to 'round her to.' The pilot could see no signal, but the Captain insisted that one had been made. On nearing our Irishman, the latter inquired if he could get deck passage to St. Charles. The Captain cursed him for delaying the boat, but said: 'Get aboard, you old scalawag, I won't wait two minutes for you.' The Irishman obeyed with alacrity, clambered on board, and Governor Reeder had escaped from Kansas, 'out of the jaws of death, out of the mnouth of hell.'" The diary which the Governor kept from the time the clouds began to gather over his path way re- veals the feeling of a loving husband and father, whose family was more to him than his own life.
The fugitive Governor continued his journey on the steamboat, proceeding down the Missouri River, but he did not care to go to St. Louis, and when the steamer laid up for the night at St. Charles, on the left bank of the river, it was planned to have him leave the vessel and enter the dark woods as the safest plan. Two friends, who were armed and prepared to fight if need be, were to go with him. A violent thunder storm was raging, but they stuck to their program and started to the forest, losing the road twice, but traveling on, and at eight o'clock in the morning
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reached the Mississippi, fifteen miles above Alton. A man was hired to take them across the river to the Illinois side, and thus, on the 27th of May, the Governor landed in Illinois, a free state. A telegram carried the joyful news to his wife in the East, and there was a happy home in Easton.
Before he returned, the Governor went to Chi- cago, Bloomington and Detroit, raising his voice in aid of Kansas. He pleaded for ten thousand men to go to the rescue of the unfortunate state, and thousands were soon on their way. When at length a fair vote could be had, slavery was buried under a majority of ten thousand, and Kansas was free. The true patriot and self-denying man and hero returned to Easton, and in the quiet of pri- vate life spent his remaining days.
EWIS S. LENHART, who is now Clerk of the Orphans' Court of Allentown, has the honor of being a native of the Keystone State, for his birth occurred in Berks County, on the 4th of September, 1863. He is the second in order of birth in a family of three children, whose parents were Levi H. and Sarah J. (Kistler) Len- hart. The paternal grandfather, Benjamin Len- hart, was born in Berks County, of German de- scent. The maternal grandfather was Stephen J. Kistler. The parents of our subject were also ua- tives of Pennsylvania, the father born in Berks County and the latter in Lehigh County.
No event of special importance occurred during the childhood and youth of our subject, his days being quietly passed. After attending the com- mon schools, he supplemented his primary advant- ages by further pursuing liis studies in the Kutz- town Normal, of Berks County. He thus became a well informed man, and to his knowledge he has greatly added by reading, observation and experi- ence in later years. After leaving the normal he engaged in teaching in Lehigh County for three years, and then became proprietor of a hotel in Fogelsville. He embarked in that enterprise in 1884, and has since carried it on. Under his able
management it has been made to yield him a good income, and has proved a profitable investment. In 1890 he was made Clerk of the Orphans' Court at Allentown, and entered upon the duties of the position in January, 1891, to serve for a period of three years.
On the 21st of June, 1883, Mr. Lenhart was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Wendling, a daughter of David Wendling. The wedding cere- mony was performed in Fogelsville, and by their union were born two children, a daughter and a son, named Mary E. and Charles F. The parents are well known people of this community, and have a large circle of warm friends.
Mr. Lenhart exercises his right of franchise in support of the Democratic party, and is a warm ad- vocate of its men and measures. Socially he is connected with Macungie Lodge No. 231, I. O.O.F., and is also a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He is a young man, wide-awake and enter- prising, and his support is ever cheerfully given to the advancement of those enterprises which arc calculated to prove of public benefit. In the dis- charge of his duties as Clerk of the Orphans' Court he has ever been found faithful and true, leaving no task neglected but every labor per- formed.
T HOMAS McFALL, proprietor of the Flicks- ville Mills, is at the head of one of the principal industries of Northampton Coun- ty. The mill of which he is owner is two and one- half stories in height, and is fitted throughout with the latest improved roller-process machinery for the manufacture of flour, buckwheat, rye flour and feed. In the different departments three men arc employed, and for a portion of each year the mill is run night and day. The output for twen- ty-four hours is thirty barrels of flour, and as the products are of a superior grade they find a ready market.
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