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 21
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 21
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 21
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The marriage of our subject was celebrated in 1858, at which time Miss Clara, daughter of Will- iam App, became his wife. , Mr. App, who was for- merly a well-to-do citizen of this county, is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Gangaware were born six children, of whom those living are Alice, the wife of George B. Dieter; Theophilus; David, who married Miss Minnie Henrichic, daughter of Louis and Mary Henrichie; George and Joseph.
In politics our subject is an unfaltering Repub- lican. He is a member of the United Evangelical Church and takes a conspicuous part in church matters. Mr. Gangaware is onc whose pleasant social qualities have won bim many friends during the years of his residence here.
OL. THEODORE L. MUMFORD, formerly a prominent resident of Mauch Chunk, was the lessce and manager of the noted Switch Back Railroad of that city, with which he became identified in the year 1879. His connec- tion with that company covered a period of fif- teen years, and he operated the road successfully from the first. He carried it on during the sum- mer and fall months, the season terminating on the 1st of November of each year. The num- ber of people who patronize the road during one season often amounts to eighty thousand. The starting place is on the extreme point of Mt. Pis- gah, the passengers for that place being drawn up on an inclined plane by a stationary engine and cars made for the purpose. During the trip they visit many places of interest in the mountains and coal regions, Mt, Pisgah is sixteen hundred and
sixty feet above tide water. The decline in the grade of the road is ninety-six feet to the mile, and the cars used are the regular tourist coaches, so there is no obstacle to obstructthe view of the delightful scenery through which they pass.
Mr. Mumford is a native of New York, born near Cooperstown, Otsego County, in 1831. The Mumford family was founded in America by an- cestors who emigrated from Wales in 1630. As early as 1700 their descendants located in Otsego, N. Y. The grandfather of our subject, Joseph Mumford, was a farmer and merchant. He also took quite a prominent part in politics and served as State Senator. His wife was in her maiden- hood Polly Adams, and her father was one of the heroes of the Revolution. The father of our sub- ject, Orville Mumford, was also a native of the Empire State. Having attained to mature years, he was united in marriage with Jerusha Edson, whose ancestors were numbered among the Puri- tan forefathers, and landed at Salem, Mass., in 1629. The family was founded in New York in 1800.
In taking up the personal history of Colonel Mumford we present to our readers the life record of one who is both widely and favorably known in Carbon County. He spent the days of his boy- hood and youth in the county of his nativity and acquired his education in the common schools. At the early age of fourteen h'e commenced to earn his own livelihood and began his career as a rail- road man, being employed in assisting an engin- cering corps in locating the Blossburg & Corning Railroad. He was afterward employed on the Erie Road, now the New York, Lake Erie & West- ern Railroad, with which he was connected for a number of years.
On leaving the employ of that company Col- onel Mumford went to Lancaster, Pa., and was em- ployed at the Norris Locomotive Works as Assist- ant Superintendent of the same, and remaincd there until the works were closed down. He then left his native land and went to Central America. He secured employment in Costa Rica with Henry Meigs, receiving a salary of $5,000 per year, paya- ble in American gold. He there remained for some time, and on his return to the United States
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he formed a connection with the New York & Oswego Midland Railroad, now the New York, On- tario & Western Railroad. He was the principal Director of the business of this road in all de- partments for several years, or until their financial depression caused him to abandon the position.
The lady who bears the name of Mrs. Mumford was in her maidenhood Maria Timm. She was born in the Empire State, and is a daughter of John Timm, also of New York. To the Colonel and his wife were born two children. Henry E., an intelligent and gifted young man, died in 1884, in his twenty-first year. The other child died in infancy.
The Colonel was a stanch Republican, taking a prominent part in political affairs, and served as a member of the Republican State Central Commit- tee. He frequently served as a delegate to the county, congressional and state conventions, where his opinions were received with favor, for his worth is known throughout the state.
ON. JOSEPH P. ENGELMAN, M. D. This prominent member of the medical profession is engaged in practice in Cher- ryville, by whose residents he is held in high es- teem. He was born in Bath, Northampton County, April 30, 1833, and is the son of Abraham and Mary (Patterson) Engelman, the former of whom was born in Lehigh County, and is descended from an old and prominent family who located in that vicinity prior to the Revolutionary War, in which conflict the grandfather of our subject lost a limb. On his mother's side Joseph P. is of Scotch-Irish descent, and the Pattersons were early settlers in the Monocacy Valley. Abraham Engel- man was for many years a well-to-do business man in Bath, and engaged extensively in the manu- facture of a good grade of cigars. He departed this life at the age of seventy-six years.
Dr. Engelman was reared to man's estate in his native place, and in his youth learned the cigar
trade from his father, for whom he worked until attaining his majority. He received his education in the public and private schools of Bath, and al- though early in life determining to follow the medical profession, he was obliged to abandon the idea until he could secure the means to pay his way through college. In 1855 he left home, and going to Philadelphia, engaged in the man- ufacture of cigars for nine months, when he re- turned to his native city and continued to follow that trade for three and one-half years, working for his father six hours per day, and devoting the remainder of the time to his medical studies, read- ing under the tutelage of Dr. W. E. Barnes. With the money thus saved from his labors, together with the assistance rendered by his brother, Henry P., he was enabled to enter Jefferson Mcdical Col- lege in Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1861 with the degrec of Doctor of Medicine. While in the office of Dr. Barnes, who was the physician for the Northampton County Alms House, he secured much valuable informa- tion and experience in assisting him in his labors.
When looking about for a suitable location Dr. Engelman took up his place of abode in Cherry- ville, where he has been engaged in practice since, and that he has been successful is evident from the busy life which he leads. He was married in 1864 to Miss Catherine, daughter of Peter and Sarah (Kuntz) Shafer, who were born in Northampton County. The father of Mrs. Engelman is deceased, and her mother, who is now in the eighty-third year of her age, makes her home in her family. To the Doctor and his wife have been born three children: Emma A., the wife of Elwood Kuntz, who resides in Mauch Chunk; Henry P., a druggist, engaged in business in Woodbury, N. J., and Will- iam S., who is attending the civil and mechanical engineering school connected with Harvard Uni- versity.
Dr. Engelman was in 1883 elected a member of the Lower House of the Pennsylvania Legislature on the Democratic ticket, and on the expiration of his term was re-elected. He is a member of the Northampton County Medical Society, the Penn- sylvania State Medical Society and the National Medical Society. In religious affairs he is promi-
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nently identified with the Reformed Church in Bath and seeks in many ways to secure the fur- therance of the good eause in his community. He belongs to the Masonic order in Bath. His repu- tation is well established as a man of honor, relia- bility and true worth, and he is respected in due proportion.
F RANK I. HAINES. Among the represent- ative citizens of Lehigh County who have taken a commendable interest in every- thing pertaining to the welfare of this section of the state, and who have contributed their quota to its progress, we present the name of Mr. Haines, a leading resident of Trexlertown. The responsible duties connected with his present position as sta- tion and tieket agent and telegraph operator, he discharges to the satisfaction of the people, and in a manner reflecting credit upon his abilities.
Born January 7, 1849, our subjeet is a native of the village where he now resides. 'The family of which he is a member was one of the first to settle in Lehigh County, and was prominently connected with the early history of Trexlertown. His par- ents, Benjamin and Maria (Ruth) Haines, were na- tives of this eounty, where the father followed the occupation of a farmer. There were four children in the family, namely: William R., who lives in Allentown; Eliza, the widow of John Biery, and a resident of Allentown; Adeline, wife of Jonas Lichtenwalner, of Upper Macungie Township; and Frank I.
Upon the home farm in Lehigli County the sub- ject of this sketch passed the years of boyhood and youth. His educational advantages were good, in- cluding attendance at the public sehools of Upper Macungie Township, and one year later at Wyo- ming Seminary, Kingston, Pa. After finishing his studies, he taught one term of school in Lynn Township. In 1867 he was employed by the Crane Iron Company in the capacity of weighmaster, his partieular work being the weighing of ore at Al- burtis, Lehigh County. For about two years lic
devoted his attention exclusively to thuis line of work, which he afterward earried on for a number of years in connection with the duties of station agent. He remained in Alburtis until December, 1890, when he came to Trexlertown and accepted the position of station and ticket agent for the Catasauqua & Fogelsville Railway Company, which is now part of the Reading Railroad system.
The lady who on the 7th of August, 1873, be- eame the wife of Mr. Haines was Agnes, daugh- ter of Charles Unbescheiden, of Trexlertown. Of the three children of this union, Emilie is the only survivor. While not active in publie affairs, Mr. Haines is a stanch Republican, and never fails to support the principles of that party. In his re- ligious eonneetions, he is identified with the Re- formed Church at Trexlertown. Socially he is prominently identified with the Trexlertown Mu- tual Aid Association, and also holds membership in the orders of Knights of Malta and Golden Eagle at Alburtis.
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UDGE LEVI WENTZ, formerly Associate Judge of Carbon County, is a leading and well known citizen of Aquashicola. He is a native of Northampton County, Pa., where his birth oeeurred on the 12th of January, 1824, and in a family of six sons and six daughters, he is the only surviving son.
The parents of the Judge were Jacob and Mag- dalena (Keefer) Wentz, both natives of the Lehigh Valley. The grandfather of the former, John Y. Wentz, was a native of Germany, and the founder of the family in Northampton County. Jacob Wentz learned the trade of eoopering, which oe- cupation he followed for a number of years, and later turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. His death occurred about 1864, and that of his wife in 1852.
The boyhood of our subjeet was passed in Nortli- ampton County. After attaining his majority, he was employed by a brother who was conducting a
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mercantile business at Kuntz's Ford. In the fall of 1846 he became a resident of Weissport, Carbon County, where he engaged in clerking for several years. He next entered into partnership with George Horn, and embarked in mercantile busi- ness for himself. They successfully conducted the enterprise until 1856, when Mr. Wentz pur- chased his partner's interest, thus becoming sole proprietor. A year later, however, he sold out the business and removed to this place, of which he has since been a resident. In 1862 he again en- gaged in merchandising, in which he continued for a number of years in this town.
Judge Wentz was the second Postmaster in Aquashicola, and served in this capacity until elected to the important position of Associate Judge of Carbon County, when he resigned his place as Postmaster. The former position he filled acceptably for a period of six years. While oc- cupying that responsible place he was noted for his impartial and wise decisions on all matters, and for the integrity with which he discharged his duties. Politically he is a Republican, and is an active temperance man, inclining toward Prohibi- tion principles. For several years he was identi- fied with the slate industry, in which he had money invested.
The Judge was married January 1, 1850, to Sarah Bowman, who was born January 19, 1834, in this county, and is a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Weiss) Bowman, both natives of Carbon County. Mrs. Wentz's brother is the well known Bishop Thomas Bowman, of Chicago, who is a Bishop in the Evangelical Association. For many years her father ran a hotel at Lehigh Gap near the Chain Bridge, the place being known as Bowman's Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Wentz have four living children: Rev. Thomas, who is now stationed at Matamoras, Pa .; Annie M., the wife of Franklin Ash; Jennie E., Mrs. A. W. Kistler; and Mary A. Mrs. Wentz's sister, Mrs. Carrie Snyder, resides in Allentown, and her brother James lives in Wilkes Barre, Pa. Another brother, Wesley W., is a resident of Slat- ington, Pa., and Mrs. Perry Wannemacher lives at Macungie, this state.
The education of our subject was obtained in the public schools of Northampton County, and
he also for a time was a student in Professor Van- derveer's Private Academy at Easton. Ile is a gen- tleman of extended knowledge and wide informa- tion, and has always kept up his studies and gen- eral reading. He is President of the Towamen- sing Farmers' Fire Insurance Company, a local organization, and has been interested in many in- dustries of the community. With his wife he holds membership with the Evangelical Associa- tion, and is now serving his fiftieth year in the po- sition of Class-leader. He has a wide acquaintance in the Lehigh Valley, and enjoys the esteem and regard of his many friends.
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OHN FARBER. Probably no resident of Lehigh Township is more deserving of rep- resentation in this volume than Mr. Farber, who has pursued a course in life which has resulted in securing for him the hearty respect of those who know him, and in giving him a proud rank among the farmers and landowners of North- ampton County. The visitor to his home will find it a well regulated establishment, where good stock in sufficient numbers, improved machinery, and a complete line of well built cdifices add to the value of the naturally fertile soil. The estate consists of two hundred and sixteen acres in Lehigh Town- ship, which are devoted by the intelligent owner to general farming.
Our subject is a native of this county, and was born April 7, 1839, to Daniel and Anna Farber, the father born in Lehigh County, and the mother a native of this county. Daniel Farber departed this life in February, 1873, greatly mourned by many true friends. John, of this sketch, grew to man's estate on his father's farm, and as was usual with the lads of that early day, attended the district school, where he acquired a good fund of general information.
The lady whom our subject chose as his wife and to whom he was married in 1860 was Miss Rebecca daughter of Reuben Beichcy. To them has been
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
born a daughter. Laura, who is now the wife of Henry Hower. For many years after his marriage Mr. Farber gave his attention entirely to the eul- tivation of his farm. Later, however, he operated a gristmill in eonneetion with tilling the soil, but after being thus engaged for some time rented the mill, and is now living on his fine estate, taking life easy and enjoying the result of former years of hard work. He is also the proprietor of a saw- mill located on his farm, which is fitted out with good machinery, and in this business he reaps a good income.
Mr. Farber has been called upon to serve as a member of the School Board and has been Assist- ant Assessor of Lehigh Township. In politics he is a Republican, giving his voice and ballot in its favor. He is a member of the Horse Insurance Company of Lehigh, Moore, Allen and East Allen Townships. Religiously he holds membership with St. Paul's Reformed Church.
J OHN A. KICHLINE, ex-Deputy County Sheriff of Northampton County, and a resi- dent of Bethlehem, does the largest business of any Justice of the Peace in this city. Mr. Kichline was born in Richland Township, Bueks County, January 30, 1835, being a son of Jacob Kielline, who was also born in that locality, as was his father, who bore the given name of John. The great-grandfather of our subjeet, Andrew, came from Germany prior to the War of the Revo- lution, and with his two brothers, Peter and Wil- helm, located about 1768 in Bueks County, Peter settling near Easton, while Andrew located at Kichline, there engaging in farming and hotel keeping. The remaining brother, Wilhelm, re- turned to Germany and became a general in the German Army. The three brothers all took part in the War of the Revolution, being in the patri- otic army.
Jacob Kichline, our subjeet's father, was a farmer, owning a part of the old homestead in Richiland
Township, and in 1839 removed to Lower Saneon Township, where his death occurred in 1854. In polities he was a Democrat, and in religious affilia- tions belonged to the Reformed Church. His wife. formerly Christiana Sehleifer, was a native of Rieliland Township, and a daughter of a farmer. After having been blind for seventeen years, she departed this life in Richland Township, being over eighty-nine and a-half years of age. Of her seven children who grew to maturity, only four survive.
Growing to man's estate on his father's farm, John A. Kiehline passed his early years in Lower Saucon Township, giving his father the benefit of his serviees. He remained on the homestead until the spring of 1855, when he went to Philadelphia and entered the wholesale house of Reeksilver & Co. In the fall of that year, however, he returned to the old home and engaged iu teaching sehool in Buslıkill and Bethlehem Townships.
Mr. Kichline was married in 1858, in Bethlehem Township, to Miss Rebecca Long, daughter of Michael and Catherine Long, by whom he had seven eliildren, six of whom are living: Alarie A., who is agent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Bethlehem; Sabra, who became the wife of Jeremia Ziegenfuss, and is now living at home; Minnie S., Mrs. Rhoad; and Charles R., Emma R. and Ellen T., who are at home. Michael Long, Mrs. Kichline's father, was a shoemaker by trade.
A year after his marriage Mr. Kichline was ap- pointed Deputy Sheriff under Sheriffs Heckman and Hower, and removed to Easton. While oecu- pying this position he had plenty to do, as there was then a bad element in the county, but he was fortunate in escaping injury, and was faithful to the trust reposed in him. In 1864, after resigning his position, he returned to Bethlehem Township, and taught school for one term near Shimers Sta- ~ tion, and afterward engaged in farming. Subse- quently he served as Constable and continued to live in Lower Saucon for four years. In 1884 he became a resident of Bethlehem, and was appointed and later elected Deputy Constable. In August, 1888, he was appointed by Governor Beeber as Justice of the Peace to succeed Justice C. M.
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Anstett, and in the spring of 1889 was elected Jus- tice of the Peace of the Third Ward to serve for a period of five years. He was re-elected in 1894 for the sneeeeding five years, having his office at No. 209 North Main Street. Sinee 1891 he lias been Assessor of the ward, to which position he was chosen by eleetion, and in 1894 was elected Borongli Clerk. In the Third Ward he has never had any opposition, having been returned by a good Democratic majority. For five years he was a Sehool Director of Bethlehem Township, and for one year has been President of the Board. In politics he votes with the Democratic party, and fraternally is a member of the Mystic Chain, of whieli he is a Past Officer. Religiously he is in sympathy with the Reformed Church, which he regularly attends. Mr. Kichline numbers many friends in this eity, for he is genial and courteous in his treatment of all, and thus readily wins com- men dation.
T HOMAS H. RITTER has made a fine suc- cess of the butcher's business, having one of the finest markets to be found in Beth- leliem. He superintends the buying of his stock personally, selects only the finest to be had, and justly merits the fine trade he has acquired. A gentleman in the best sense of the word, he is act- ive in local affairs, and numbers a host of warm friends.
The birth of Mr. Ritter occurred March 22, 1859, in Freemansburg. His great-grandfather Ritter, a native of Germany, was a farmer and an early set- tler in Rittersville. Grandfather Henry Ritter was born in that village, wlicre he kept a hotel, and it was for him that the town was named. For some years he served as Postmaster of the place, and was a good business man. His wife, who died at the age of eighty-six years, was a de- voted Lutheran, to which faith he also adhered. Lewis Ritter, the father of Thomas H., was also born in Rittersville, and followed the oeeupation of blacksmithing. Locating at Freemansburg, he carried on a shop at that place until the North-
ampton Furnace was built,-when he took charge of the blaeksmitli department. He was aceidentally killed, being run over by a passenger engine in 1871, when in the prime of life, aged forty-six years. His wife, who in her girlhood was Mary Henn, was born in Lower Saucon, Northampton County, and was a danghter of George Henn, a farmer in that locality, and also a Mason. Mrs. Lewis Ritter is still living, making her home at Freemansburg. Four of her six children are liv- ing: George; Ellen, Mrs. Knipe; Thomas H. and Osear-all in this eity.
Mr. Ritter, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Freemansburg until his thirteenth year, reeciv- ing a common-school education. Then lie went to Easton, where for nearly four years he was a elerk for Owen Reich, a groeer. Later coming to Bethlehem, he served an apprenticeship as a ma- ehinist under Henry Truwbower, of the Bethleliem Iron Company. Nine years of steady work witlı that concern followed, when, on account of over- work, and owing to the fact that he could no longer endure the gas, he was obliged to leave the business, and in the fall of 1884 started in his present oceupation. In the spring of 1885 he lo- eated on East Goepp Street, where he bought and built up a place. Beginning on a small scale, with only one wagon for delivery, his trade gradually inereased, and in a year's time he was running two wagons. The third year his business was enlarged, and in 1888 he took in, as a partner, William Winscli, the firm being known as Ritter & Winscli until 1890, when Mr. Ritter purchased his part- ner's interest, and has since continued alone. In addition to his regular line of trade, he has built up a slaughter-house refrigerator. The latter is 24x24 feet in dimensions, with a capacity of two hundred tons of ice, and the slaughter-house is 30x65 feet in dimensions. In connection with this are smoke houses, sheds, stables, etc. For gen- eral purposes steam-power is used with a four- horse engine and an eight horse-power boiler. The refrigerator is Brower's patent, the best known for the business. In addition to his local trade he sends meats to Freemansburg and other near points.
On the 16th of March, 1879, Mr. Ritter married
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Miss Dora Keiper, daughter of Jacob Keiper, a brick- layer of this city. They are the parents of three children: Emily, Raymond and Robert. The fam- ily attend the Bethany Evangelical Church, of which Mr. Ritter is Trustee and Steward. A true- blue Republican, he is also a member of the Royal Arcanum. Actively interested in local affairs, he is connected with the Masonic Building and Loan Association, and supports all useful enterprises.
R EV. J. S. ERB is the beloved pastor of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Slatington. Hc is a native of Montgom- ery County, this state, having been born in Doug- lass Township, September 16, 1847. His carly life was spent in attendance at the public school, and when a lad of sixteen years he began to teach, con- tinuing for several terms. Later he became a stu- dent at Mt. Pleasant Seminary, at Boyertown, this state, and while there made the most of his oppor- tunitics.
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