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 19

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 19
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 19
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 19

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The early years of Dr. Kasten's life were spent in his native county, and when a boy he began clerk- ing in a drug store for J. M. Hess. He was given the advantage of a liberal education, and having a pronounced taste for the medical profes- sion, began to prepare himself when quite young for his chosen calling. After reading medicine for a time under the tutelage of Dr. L. W. Moyer, he entered Jefferson Medical College, from which institution he graduated with honor in May, 1893. He then engaged in practice for a short time with his former instructor, but in July, 1893, located in this place, and is carrying on his practice alone. He occupies a well appointed office, and enjoys a very fair patronage.

Dr. Kasten is a member of the Lehigh Valley Medical Society, also of the Carbon County Soci- ety. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and is influential in the political life of the community. Religiously he is a Lutheran and a member of the church of that denomination.

H ON. JAMES S. BIERY, who gained dis- tinction through his public services as a Member of Congress, is a prominent at- torney-at-law of Allentown, and holds an enviable position in the legal circles of Lehigh County. He has the honor of being a native of the state which is still his home. He was born on the Alle- ghany River, in Venango County, March 2, 1839, and is a son of Henry and Esther (Slotrey) Biery, both of whom were natives of Lehigh County. The father was a farmer by occupation, and in 1837 removed with his family to Venango County,

where he and his wife spent their remaining days.

Upon the old homestead farm our subject was reared, and in the district schools of the neighbor- hood he began his education. Hc afterward at- tended a select school, and later pursued his stud- ies in Emlenton Academy. On leaving that insti- tution he began teaching, at the age of ninetcen, and successfully followed that profession for sev- eral years. Three years of that time he was a teacher in Venango County, and for eight years followed teaching in Lehigh County. Subsequent- ly he engaged in the study of theology for two years, but, changing his mind about entering the ministry, he instead entered the law office of Judge Edwin Albright, of Allentown, and after thorough preparation was admitted to the Bar, in September, 1868, in this city. Here he at once be- gan practice, and his time and attention have since been devoted to his chosen profession. He was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court in 1875, in Washington, D. C. He has ever been a close student of his profession, and his abilities, both natural and acquired, have placed him among the leading practitioners at the Lehigh County Bar and in eastern Pennsylvania.

In 1872 Mr. Biery was clected to Congress, rep- resenting the Sixth Congressional District, which comprised the counties of Lehigh and Montgomery. He is a Republican in politics, and on that ticket was elected. On the expiration of his term of office he returned to Allentown and resumed his law practice, which he has diligently prosecuted up to the present time. When in Congress he took an active part in the discussion favoring the resumption of specic payment. He has been a close student of the topics and issues of the day, and has made himself well informed concerning everything pertaining thereto. He has written many learned and able articles on different sub- jects, for various periodicals and papers. Hc was the author of a series of articles on the revision of the tariff, published in 1879 and 1880 in the Allentown Chronicle and News, and copicd in the Reading Times. They were also copied and com- mented upon by many of the leading journals throughout the country. His latest literary effort is a satire on "King Grover," which has had a

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wide cireulation, and which received much favor- able commendation from metropolitan journals throughout the land.

On the 1st of Mareh, 1864, Mr. Biery was united in marriage with Miss Annie Mertz, of Allentown, daughter of Elias Mertz. They have one son, Arthur L., a praetieing attorney of this place. The family is widely known in the community in which they have so long resided, and its members are prominent in social circles. Mr. Biery takes an active part in politieal affairs by advoeating the principles of the Republican party. He is also a staneh supporter of those interests and enterprises which are calculated to benefit and improve the eity and advance the general welfare. The com- munity which has so long been his home finds in him one of its best citizens.

B ENJAMIN KERN has been a resident of Slatington throughout almost the entire period of his life, and was formerly one of its most extensive merehants. He aequired a fortune by his ably conducted business enterprises, and is now living in pleasant retirement in the city of his birth. When in active business he dis- played marked energy, and his management of his interests was characterized by superior discrimin- ation, unerring judgment, and a sound poliey in money matters. Though praetieally retired, he still maintains a general oversight of his varied in- terests, both monetary and real-estate.

Mr. Kern was born in Slatington, August 26, 1834. His father, Jonas Kern, was one of the most prominent men of this section of country, and was a miller by occupation, though engaged in farm- ing for several years. He was the founder of the town of Slatington, and at one time owned the land upon which stands the present city. To him also belongs the distinction of having developed the first slate quarry of Slatington. Even in old age he retained the activity and energy character- istic of him in youth, and was hale and robust up

to the time of his death, which occurred in 1892, at the age of eighty-seven years.

Benjamin Kern is the fifth lineal descendant in a direct line from Nicholas Kern, the original owner of a five-hundred-acre tract of land upon which the major portion of the town of Slatington now stands. Nicholas Kern held the land under patents (dated November 24, 1737, and Marchi 15, 1738), from the proprietors, the heirs of Willian Penn. From Nicholas a portion of it descended to William, thence to John (the grandfather of our subjeet), afterward to Jonas, his father, and is now in the possession of Benjamin. The present hand- some residence of Mr. Kern stands on that portion of the property which was the garden one hundred and fifty years ago.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Kern, was a native of Lehigh County and a man of prominence in his loeality. The original rep- sentatives of the family in the United States emi- grated hitler from Switzerland, and in an early day settled in Lehigh County, where they pur- chased large tracts of land. Our subjeet's mother bore the maiden name of Maria Wehr, and was born in this county, where her entire life was passed. Benjamin spent the years of boyhood in the parental home, receiving such advantages as the publie sehools afforded, and supplementing the information there gained by six months' tuition in the old Allentown Academy.

At the age of sixteen years Mr. Kern secured a position as clerk in a store at Slatington, where he gained familiarity with the mercantile trade. In 1853, in partnership with Henry Kuntz, he em- barked in merchandising, and for several years con- tinued in that connection, but the partnership was finally dissolved by mutual consent. After that he conducted the business as sole proprietor, and met with the greatest success until his retirement, in August of 1893. He always kept a complete line of goods suited to the wants of his customers, and had a large trade among the people of Slat- ington and the surrounding country.

With all movements tending toward the ad- vancement of the interests of the town Mr. Kern has always been in hearty sympathy. In 1877 he was elected Burgess of Slatington, and in that re-

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sponsible position displayed the possession of en- ergy, executive ability and good judgment. For several terms he served as a member of the Town Council. In politics he always supports the prin- ciples of the Republican party, and is prominent in local affairs. Socially he is identified with the Knights of Malta.

On the 6th of December, 1857, Mr. Kern was united in marriage with Miss Leanna Peters, a na- tive of Lehigh County, and a daughter of Jonas Peters, of this county. They have had two daugli- ters, of whom the elder, Agnes J., is deceased. The younger, Ella Victoria, is the wife of Joseph H. Fuller. In religious connections Mr. and Mrs. Kern hold membership in the Reformed Church of Slatington, to the good works of which they are liberal contributors, and in the social circles of the town none are held in higher cstecm than they.

D ANIEL YODER, M. D., President of the Lehigh Valley Homeopathic Medical So- ciety, and a successful physician of Cata- sauqua, was born in Maxatawney Township, Berks County, Pa., September 30, 1833. His paternal ancestors were Huguenots, who, emigrating from France to America, settled in Oley Township, Berks County, Pa., in 1717. Both his father, David Yoder, and his grandfather were natives of the Keystone State, and followed agricultural pursuits. The former removed in 1834 to Whitehall (now Mickleys) Township, Lehigh County, where he en- gaged in farming. In 1847 he went to Northamp- ton County, and settled on a farm near Bath, where his death occurred four years later. In re- ligious belief he was a member of the Reformed Church, while his political affiliations were with the Whigs.

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary Levan, and was born in Maxatawney Township, Berks County. Her father, William, was a native of the same place, and was a farmer by occupation. The Levan family traces its an-

cestry to three brothers of that name who came to this country from France, having left their native land on account of the persecution of the Hugue- nots, to which class they belonged. Mrs. Mary Yoder died at Catasauqua in 1873, after having had eleven children. Five of the number arc now living, and of these the Doctor is the eldest.

Brought to Lehigh County when an infant, the subject of this sketch passed the days of childhood in Mickleys Township. In 1847 he accompanied the family to Bath, and was educated in Bethle- hem, and in the Vanderveer Academy at Easton. At the age of twenty he commenced to teach, and for a time had charge of the Levan school. In 1855 lie began the study of medicine under Dr. Walter F. Martin, of Weaversville, and the following year entered the medical department of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, where he took a course of lectures. Later he conducted his studies in the Pennsylvania Medical College at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1858.

Opening an office at Catasauqua, Dr. Yoder has since engaged in practice here, and is, in point of time, the oldest homeopathic physician in the val- ley. In 1873 he built an elegant residence at the corner of Third and Bridge Streets, where he also has his office. He has been interested in the im- provement of the city, and has laid out eight acres in town lots. Socially lie is a Mason, and has been Treasurer of his lodge for thirty years. He has attained the Knight-Templar degree, and is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In political views he is a firm Repub- lican, cver loyal to party principles. Heis a men- ber of the American Institute of Homeopathy, the Homeopathic Medical Society of Pennsylvania, and the Lehigh Valley Homeopathic Medical Society, having been President of the last-named organi- zation for three years. Dr. Yoder is an enthusias- tic and very successful collector of English pot- tery, including the historical blue plates of Amer- ican designs.

March 19, 1861, in Catasauqua, occurred the marriage of Dr. Yoder and Miss Amanda E. Glace. Mrs. Yoder is the daughter of Samuel Glace, who was born in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pa., October 12, 1805, and accompanied his father,

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Peter Glace, to the Conyngham Valley, in Luzerne County, where he engaged in farming. In 1828 he came to the Lehigh Valley, and in 1843 entered the employ of the Crane Iron Company. Later he had charge of the canal between the Slate and Allentown dams, working for the same company. For thirty years he remained with that firm, a fact which proved his ability and trustworthiness. Dur- ing that time he saw the iron industry in the United States increase from fifteen hundred tons per an- num to eight million tons in 1891. Other changes he also witnessed, including the introduction of the locomotive, the hot-air blast, the telegraph and telephone, and those marvels of the nineteenth century, the daily papers. He was a man of firm religious belief, and was an Elder in St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

February 9, 1836, Samuel Glace was united in marriage, by Rev. J. Yeager, with Miss Isabella Swartz, who passed away May 6, 1880. She was the daughter of John and Sarah (Mickley) Swartz, who at that time lived on the river road between Catasauqua and Northampton. When he died, January 3, 1892, his loss was mourned by his hosts of warm personal friends, who realized that there had passed away one of the most prominent, as well as one of the most upright, men of the Lehigh Valley.

I UDGE DAVID LAURY, deceased, was one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Lehigh County, and his life was a most useful and honorable one. He was born June 1, 1805, in North Whitehall Township, which at that time was a part of Northampton County. He was the son of John Laury, and the eldest of eleven children. As a boy he attended a German school for a few terms, and learned to read and write that language. He was brought up as a farmer and blacksmith, and in August, 1827, he married Miss Maria Kline, of the town of Lowhill, in the same county, with whom he lived happily for over fifty years. His venerable help-

mate died Marchi 12, 1878. Ten children were born to them, viz .: Mary, wife of Thomas New- hard; Henry Kline Laury; Caroline, wife of Adam Laubach; Lewis K. Laury; Maria, who married Dr. Stephen Ruch, of Elmira, N. Y .; Josephine, wife of George F. Kimball; Miss Leah Laury; Re- becca, Mrs. Joseph Bibighans; David K. Laury, Jr .; and Alexander C. P. Laury.

In 1832 Judge Laury located in the town which was named Laury's Station in honor of him, and built the large gristmill, the fine summer resort and the hotel, besides owning much valuable real estate, and Laury Island, in the Lehigh River, re- nowned as a popular picnic resort. In early life he took an active interest in politics, and in 1838, with seven other gentlemen from this county, at- tended a convention at Harrisburg called to re- organize the Democratic party. The body was known as the Young Men's Convention, and a result of their work was the election of David R. Porter as Governor of this state. His first com- mission was as Captain of a company which had served in the War of 1812. This commission was issued by Joseph Ritner, the anti-Mason Governor. He was re-elected to the Captaincy for several terms. In 1846 he was nominated for the Legislature for the district then composed of Carbon and Lehigh Counties, but was defeated. In 1850 he was nom- inated and elected, and served four years. In 1856 he was a Presidential Elector, and voted for James Buchanan. In 1863 he was appointed Post- master at Laury's Station, and held the office up to the time of liis death. In 1865 he was elected Justice of the Peace for North Whitehall, and in 1867 was appointed Revenue Collector for Lehigh and Northampton Counties. He was elected As- sociate Judge of Lehigh County in 1868, and served with credit.

. At the time of the opening of the Lehigh Val- ley Railroad, in 1855, Judge Laury was appointed station agent at Laury's, and held that position until his death. He was an early advocate of the building of the road, and helped to collect money to pay for the first survey of the Lehigh Valley Road. The ground occupied by the Laury depot was donated to the Lehigh Valley Company by himself and wife. He had the confidence and es-

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teem of Hon. Asa Packer, and between the two the most cordial relations existcd, Judge Laury was a Democrat all his life, and his first vote was cast for Andrew Jackson. In church and Sunday- school work he was active, and it was one of liis proudest boasts that he organized the first Sunday- school in the county, outside of the city of Allen- town. He was one of the pillars of St. John's Lutheran Church at Laury's, and was one of the committee that built the edifice. He was indeed a remarkable man-was kind and charitable, and no onc stood higher in the esteem of his fellow-men than he.

Judge Laury on his father's side was of Scotch birth, while on his mother's side he traced his an- cestry from Wurtemberg, Germany. On account of his popularity and his being the oldest station agent on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, the last pas- senger locomotive built at the Lehigh Valley shops in South Easton was given his name, and was known as the "David Laury No. 5." His crayon portrait was hung in the cab of the engine. In 1854 he was commissioned Major-General of the Seventh Division Pennsylvania Militia, comprising Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties, which office he held for over three years. In 1858, when the Taylor monument was dodi- cated at Easton, his commission having expired, and he being there as a spectator, General Scott, who was to be present to command the military, failed to put in an appearance. No one else being present who would undertake to command, Gen- eral Laury was persuaded to do so, and, quickly getting together a uniform and a horse, he as- sumed command. When he rode up and down the line the assemblage cheered "General Scott," taking General Laury for General Scott. He often spoke about it, and said people should have known the difference, as he gave the command in Ger- man, while General Scott always commanded in English. Few men in the county had more real friends than he, and few there are who will be more generally and sincerely mourned. The loss of his wife in March, 1878, clouded his future greatly. During his political career, she assisted him in conducting his business enterprises, and it was a common thing for her to go on horseback

to transact his banking business and return the same day, a distance of fifty miles. She was in- deed a helpmate, and with her assistance his busi- ness prospered amazingly. He died answering his watchers that he made his peace with God, and thus passed away peacefully a great man, and there fell upon the once happy home sudden gloom for the loss of one who for many years had been the comfort of so many.

HARLES R. HORN, a popular and well known citizen of Catasauqua, is one of her enterprising young business men and is a native of this city, He has served in various offi- cial and public capacities. For five years he was Commissary Sergeant on the staff of General Go- bin, Third Brigade Pennsylvania National Guards, having been appointed by the General and having held the post until made Cashier of the National Bank of this city. In February, 1894, he received further public honors, being elected Burgess of Catasauqua, In many of the most important local enterprises lie is prominent, and is President of the Coplay Knitting Mill and Secretary of the Electric Light and Power Company of this city.

The birth of our subject occurred October 13, 1863. He is the son of M. H. and Matilda L. (Heller) Horn, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Easton. Grandfather Horn re- moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, and for several years carried on the Easton Hotel. M. H. Horn was reared in Easton and became a prominent banker of that city during the '50s. In 1857, when the Bank of Catasauqua was organized, he was elected Cashier, and from that time forward made his home in this city, where he passed his most active years. On the death of the President, Eli J. Saeger, in January, 1889, lic was elected to the presidency, which office he continued to hold until his death, being connected with the bank for almost thirty-three years. In all local affairs he was prominent, particularly in connection with the public schools, in which he took great interest.

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For many years he was a member of the School Board, and in every way endeavored to secure good schools and the best of teachers.

Coming of a very patriotic and military family, his ancestors and relatives having served in the leading wars of this country, M. H. Horn was hin- self several times connected with the army. Capt. H. Rceder's Democratic Artillerists, which he en- tered as a private, he finally commanded as Cap- tain, and after his removal to Catasauqua was chosen Major of the Lehigh Battalion, Allen Rifles, Allen Infantry, Gordon Infantry and Cata- sauqua Guards. Governor Curtin commissioned him in 1861 Paymaster of the Ninth Pennsylvania Regiment, and in September of the same year he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel on the staff of the Governor. In 1862, as acting Brigadier- General, he had charge of the ammunition and stores forwarded by way of Harrisburg to McClel- lan's army during the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. September 11, 1862, he was com- missioned Major of the Fifth Pennsylvania In- fantry, June 30, 1863, was sworn in as Captain of Company B, Thirty-eightlı Pennsylvania Regi- ment, and on the following 3d of July was com- missioned Colonel of the regiment. After the close of the war he continued active in army cir- cles, receiving several commissions and being a member of the National Guards.

In politics the Colonel was always a stanch Democrat, and in 1874 was chosen Burgess of Cat- asauqua, serving for one term. In church and Sunday-school work he was very much interested, being an active leader in St. Paul's Lutheran Church for a number of years, and later helping to organize the Trinity Lutheran Congregation in 1871, being one of the five to assume the mortgage on the building, which was crected at a cost of $16,000. During the panic of 1873 it was due to him and his colleague, J. S. Lall, that the property was saved. His wife, Matilda L., is still living and makes her home with our subject; of their union were born seven children, one of whom is deceased. After a most useful and worthy life . Colonel Horn passed away, February 28, 1890, and his loss was deeply regretted.

Charles R. Horn was reared in this city, and at-

tended the high schools after completing his pri- mary education. August 1, 1879, he became iden- tified with the National Bank as a clerk. Succes- sively promoted as time passed, he has filled every position up to Cashier, and has been most faithful in the discharge of his duties. In March, 1890, he was elected Cashier, and is also Director in the bank. He has invested to a large extent in real estate and in other business enterprises. In the upper part of the city he has put up sixty houses, and since November, 1889, when the Catasauqua Land Company was organized with a capital stock of $15,000, has laid out twenty acres in this local- ity. This company was started in the year 1889, and is making a financial success of its enter- prise. Mr. Horn is Treasurer and was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Home Building Association, which has a capital stock of $1,000,000, and which is likewise doing well in a business point of view. Since the start of the Coplay Knitting Company, in June, 1892, with a capital stock of $5,000, he has been President of the same. One of the promoters of the Electric Light and Power Company, which was organized with a capital stock of $60,000, he is a Director and Sec- retary. The plant of this concern is well equipped with large engines, power-houses, etc., and though they operate about sixty-five large lights, could run over three times as many with the power on hand.

In this city, in 1886, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Horn and Miss Blanche Thomas, who was born in Parryville, Carbon County. Her father, James Thomas, an extensive machinist, is en- gaged in the foundry business in Catasauqua. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Horn: Isabella Traill, Catherine Richards, James Thomas, Blanche, and Mary who died in infancy. Mr. Horn built a substantial frame residence in 1890 at the corner of Fifth and Walnut Streets, the architecture of which is in accord with modern ideas.

Being much interested in secret societies, our subject belongs to a number. He is now a Past Master of Porter Lodge No. 284, F. &. A. M., of Catasauqua; is connected with Catasauqua Chap- ter No. 278, R. A. M., and Allen Commandcry No.

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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 19

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