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 22

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 22
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 22
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 22

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Our subject is the son of David Erb, also a na- tive of Montgomery County, where he departed this life June 25, 1881, when in the seventy-sixth year of his agc. He was followed to the better land by his good wife, who died in February, 1893, when eighty-three years of age.

The Erb family in America came from Hcsse- Darmstadt, Germany, and located in Montgomery County in an carly day. They were mostly farm- ers by occupation. The maiden name of our sub- ject's mother .was Julia Steltz, a native of the above county, and the daughter of Valentine Steltz, whose ancestors originally came from Switz- erland.

In the fall of 1870, Mr. Erb entered the Soplio- more class in Muhlenberg College, and graduated in 1873, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. That year he became a student in the Lutheran Theo- logical Seminary at Philadelphia, it being his in- tention to prepare himself for the ininistry; three years later he was graduated, and was ordained

to preach in the year 1876. Immediately after his ordination he took charge of St. John's Church at Slatington. The membership was very small compared with what it is to-day, for it then num- bered only a little over one hundred members, and at the present time has an enrollment of nearly five hundred. Mr. Erb was instrumental in the crection of the new church edificc, which was com- pleted in 1882 at a cost of $10,000.

In 1890 our subject was elected Secretary and Treasurer of the Second District Conference of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, which position he held for four years. October 17, 1876, Rev. J. S. Erb was married to Miss Anzonette Leh, a native of Catasauqua, and the daughter of Reuben Leli, an old settler in that city, where his deccase occurred in 1885. Her mother prior to her mar- riage was Catherine Berlin, and was born in North- ampton County, this state. To our subject and Ins wife have been born two sons and a daugh- ter: Frederick Luther, Edmund Melanchthon and Helen Leh.

ILLIAM WALP, an honored resident of Bethlehem, bears the distinction of being the oldest furniture dealer in the city, having been engaged in that business since 1866. He also has a fine undertaking establish- ment in connection with this line of trade, and is classcd among the well-to-do and highly esteemed merchants of the placc. He was born in Bucks County, this state, March 17, 1834, and is the son of James Walp, also a native of that place, but the father of James Walp, who bore the name of Will- iam Walp, hailed from Germany. James Walp was a carpenter and contractor by occupation, which business he followed after his removal to Saucon Township, Lehigh County. In 1850, how- ever, he located in Bethlehem, where he worked at his trade until his deeease, when in the seventy- second year of his age. He was a devoted mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, in the work of which society lie always took a deep interest. Ilis wife

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was knownin her maidenhood as Catherine Fluck, a native of Northampton County, having been born near Leithsville. She departed this life at the age of seventy-one years.

The parental family of our subject included two sons and three daughters, of whom he is the eldest. He remained in Saueon until a lad of sixteen years, when he began learning the carpenter's trade un- der the instruction of his father. He afterward worked for John Walp, a prominent builder of Bethlehem in that day, and remained with him until embarking in the furniture business in 1866. His first partner was a Mr. Gerstner, and they con- tinued to operate together in the manufacture of all kinds of furniture for two years, when the eon- nection was dissolved, and our subject carried on the business under the firm name of William Walp & Co. until 1875, since which time he has been the sole proprietor.

In 1885 Mr. Walp built his present place of business at No. 17 North Main Street. It is a two- story and basement structure, 22x100 feet in di- mensions. The first floor is used for his furniture department, the second is devoted to the under- taking outfit, and the basement serves as the work- shop. Mr. Walp is a graduate of the Sullivan School of Embalming of Philadelphia, and in this branch of his business has been exceedingly sue- cessful.

William Walp was married in this eity in 1855 to Miss Mary Beidler, a native of Pottsville. She departed this life in 1891, having become the mother of nine ehildren, seven of whom lived to mature years. Alice is the wife of Daniel G. Wig- gins, of this eity; Annie and Minnie are at home with their brother William; Edward is residing in Easton; William is a pharmacist; Emma died in 1884, and James passed away at the age of twenty- five.

Mr. Walp has his residence located in West Bethlehem, to which portion of the eity he re- moved in 1872. He has been very prominent in local affairs, and served as a member of the first Borough Couneil in West Bethlehem, of which he was President for one year. He has been School Director for five years, and socially is a charter member of the Knights of Honor, in which he has

passed all the chairs, and was Representative to the Grand Lodge for one year. He belongs to the State Association of Undertakers, and is an ardent Democrat, and influential in the politieal life of the community. He is a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, to the support of which he is a willing and liberal contributor.

A J. BECKER, M. D., a rapidly advaneing young physician of Catasauqua, has been engaged in practice for about nine years, and at the present time has his office at No. 728 Second Street. His ancestors for several genera- tions have taken a leading part in the develop- ment and improvement of this region, and have always been patriotic and publie-spirited men. His great-grandfather, Rev. Christian L., was born and reared in Germany, becoming a minister in the Reformed Church. In middle age he brought his family to America, settling near Easton, and later removing to Baltimore, where his death oc- curred. The grandfather, Jacob C., was born in Bremen, Germany, and received his education at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, from which he graduated with the degree of Master of Arts, after studying theology with his father, and being ordained as a minister in the Reformed Church. His pastorates were principally in North- ampton County, and his death occurred in Bethle- hem in August, 1858, when he was sixty-eight years of age. His wife, Susannalı (Dreisbach) Becker, was a native of Howertown, and daughter of Jacob Dreisbach, a farmer. Mrs. Becker died when almost ninety years of age, at the home of her son, Rev. Cyrus J.

The gentleman last named is the father of our subjcet, and has been Pastor in the Reformned Church of this city since 1858. His birth oeeurred in Allen Township in 1827, and he attended the common sehools near his home subsequent to going to Easton, where for four years he was a pupil in Vanderveer Academy. Later he entered the Junior

CLINTON W. SIEGER, M. D.

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class in Lafayette College, from which he gradu- ated in 1846, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, being later honored with the degrec of Master of Arts. After studying theology with his father for three years, he was ordained, December 25, 1850. From the age of eighteen years he had preached occasionally, and now became assistant to his father, who had charge of seven congrega- tions. For four years his duties comprised hold- ing services in two churches, one on each side of the mountain, and, on the expiration of this time, on account of his health, he was obliged to live a quiet life for a period of nearly four years. It was in 1858 that he removed to this city, taking charge of the congregation here and of those at Howertown and Shoenersville. In 1870 he re- signed from the Catasauqua Church, as it was self sustaining; but he has continued his work in the others mentioned up to the present time. The church at Howertown was erccted by his father as early as 1835, and has about four hundred and twenty-five members, while the church at Shoeners- ville has about two hundred and fifty members, and the son has succeeded in upbuilding these various pastoratcs. having been active in the vari- ous lines of work connected with them.

On the 11th of November, 1852, Rev. Cyrus J. Becker was married to Miss Mary J. Weaver, who, like her father, was born in East Allen Town- ship. Of this union two children were born: Rev. Jacob F., who is a graduate of Ursinus Col- lege at Collegeville, and of the theological semi- nary at Albany, N. Y., and is now a minister in the Presbyterian Church at Rensselaerville, N. Y., and Dr. A. J., of this sketch. The father was formerly a Mason, but is now a demitted member, and in politics he has always favored the Repub- lican party.

The birth of Dr. Becker occurred March 18, 1861, in Seigfried's Bridge, Northampton County, but from his first year he was reared in Catasau- qua. After attending the common and high schools of this place, lie was for two years a student at Weaversville Academy. When about eighteen years old he began the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Becker, of Bethlehem.

In 1882 Dr. Becker was enrolled among the stu-

dents of Hahnemann Medical College at Philadel- phia, where, after a course of a few years he grad- uated, in 1885, with the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine. In addition to the regular course, he took all the practical special branches, having a diploma from each department. Since locating in this city his career has been marked with success, and much of his time and attention has been turned to the special lines of throat and nasal discases.

The Doctor was married in Coplay, in Novem- ber, 1888. to Miss Ella Schreiber, a native of that place, and daughter of Daniel Schreiber, one of the early settlers and farmers of that locality. Her fa_ ther was one of the original owners of the land on which he is now located, portions of Coplay and Hokendauqua. Dr. Becker and his wife are active members of the Reformed Church, and they own their pleasant home property. Our subject is a member of the Homeopathic Medical Society of the Lehigh Valley, and also belongs to the Hahnemann Medical Association of Philadelphia. He is a Re- publican politically, and is a member of the Patri- otic Order Sons of America.

LINTON W. SIEGER, M. D. Among the skilled physicians and surgeons of North- ampton County the subject of this biog- raphy occupies an important place, having a large and lucrative practice in Seigfried's Bridge, where he has resided since 1875. He was born in Lehigh County, November 6, 1853, and is the son of Ephraim and Clarietta (Litzenberger) Sieger, early residents of Lehigh County. The town of Siegers- ville is named in honor of the family, whose mem- bers have been prominent in this locality for a number of years.

The Doctor is a finely educated man, having supplemented the knowledge gained in the public schools by an attendance of two years in the Siegers- ville Academy and a three years' course in Muh- lenberg College. He began the study of medicine in the year 1872, under the instruction of Dr. J. J. Wilson, of Bethlehem, and after reading with him for two years entered the medical department

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of the University of Pennsylvania, from which institution he was graduated in 1875.

Upon receiving his diploma, Dr. Sieger located for the practice of his profession at Seigfried's Bridge, where he formed a partnership with Dr. A. D. Becker. The connection existed for a twelve- month, when the latter gentleman removed from the place. Since that time our subject has carried on his profession alone. He enjoys a lucrative practice in and around Seigfried's Bridge, and is recognized as a man of superior attainments and one well calculated to add fresh laurels to the pro- fession to which he devotes his time and talent.

Dr. Sieger was married in 1878 to Miss Cather- ine E., daughter of Hon. A. W. Lerch, an influen- tial citizen of Northampton County, who makes his home near Cherryville. Their union has been blessed by the birth of a daughter, Mary I. The Doctor socially is a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity, and in politics casts his vote and influ- ence in favor of Republican candidates. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and is classed among its most active workers.

The growth and development of the village of Seigfried's Bridge have received a powerful im- petus through the untiring and intelligent exer- tions of the Doctor. He has labored tirelessly and under many disadvantages to promote the good of the community. He is the owner of a fine drug store in the village, in which medicines are prepared for sale to the trade. He is one of the men, of whom the number is none too large, who give their time, knowledge and thought, almost without reservation, to promote public interests and private happiness.

T ERRENCE C. CAFFREY, born in South Easton, Northampton County, November 15, 1848, is one of the most successful real-estate men in South Bethlehem, and is also an agent for fire and life insurance. He takes a justi- fiable pride in looking back over his business ca- reer, for, commencing without any means, he to-

day controls a property amounting to thousands of dollars, which he has acquired by his individual efforts. .

Mathew Caffrey, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of County Meath, Ireland. He located in America in 1847, but afterward re- turned to the Old Country, where he remained for a short period, leaving his family herc. In 1850 he located in South Easton, Pa., and five years later settled near Joplin, in southwestern Missouri, where he purchased a large tract of land and en- gaged in farming and cattle raising until his death. Catherine (Goodno) Caffrey, the wife of Mathew Caffrey, was also born in Ireland, and became the mother of ten sons and three daughters, three of the former serving in the Confederate army.

The boyhood of Mr. Caffrey, the subject of this sketch, was passed in Missouri, and toward the end of 1863 he enlisted in Mosby's Cavalry, serv- ing until the close of the war. Then for a few years he traveled in the west, engaged in the cat- tle business, in the employ of the Chicago, Burl- ington & Quincy Railroad. In 1878 he returned to the east to visit his birthplace, and he has since continued to make his home herc. He soon ob- tained a position in the Bethlehem Iron Works, receiving good wages, and with rare foresight in- vested lis money in land in South Bethlehem. In 1882, on account of the labor troubles, he threw up his position and opened a hotel on West Third Street, in which he prospered to such an extent that in 1887 he purchased the handsome business block at the corner of Third and New Streets, es- tablishing a hotel which still exists there, which he ran until 1891. When in the employ of the Beth- lelicm Iron Works he rose to be President of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers.

In 1881 Mr. Caffrey married Miss Ann Kernan, who was born in Phillipsburg, N. J. Of this union three children were born, Katie, Margaret and Warren W. Among the real estate owned by Mr. Caffrey is property on Third Street, consisting of a hotel, two stores and two residences, five stores on New Street and miscellaneous property in dif- ferent portions of the town. Among this there is a good factory location of one hundred and sixty

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feet frontage on Second Street, and a hotel which is called the Caffrey House. He has handled much property sueeessfully, purchased a block of land in . South Bethlehem, and was one of the first to see · the value of lots on Fountain Hill, and all of these investments have brought him handsome returns. His office is located at No. 5 East Third Street, and he represents most of the leading life and fire in- suranee firms. A supporter of the Democratie party, he is interested in its suecess, though not an active politician.

EORGE T. OPLINGER, Civil Engineer and Architect, of Slatington, Pa., is an honored representative of a family whose aneestors were of German descent and who were among the pioneers of Northampton County, Pa. In the court records of that county in the October term of 1752, mention is made of the fact that Nicholas Oplinger was appointed Constable. The famous Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to Governor Morris, dated Ft. Allen, January 26, 1756, writes eoneerning the march of the troops from Bethle- hem to Gnadenhuetten (now Weissport), where they erected a fort for the purpose of fighting with the Indians. Franklin adds: "We marehed eau- tiously through the gap of the mountain, a very dangerous pass, and got to Uplinger's * (Op-

* linger), but twenty miles from Bethlehem. * * There were no habitations on the road to shelter us until we arrived at the house of a German, Nicholas Oplinger, where on his farm we were all huddled together. *

* The next day being fair, we continued our march and arrived at the desolate Gnadenhuetten."

So far as ean now be learned by investigation and tradition, it is believed that there were three broth- ers, Nieliolas (the Constable), Isaac and Samuel Oplinger. The second of these was our subjeet's great-grandfather. Grandfather Daniel Oplinger was born December 29, 1790, and died January 22, 1851, aged sixty years and twenty-eight days;

his wife, whose maiden name was Susanna Walp, was born April 15, 1793, and passed away on the 5th of April, 1865, at the advanced age of seventy- one years eleven months and twenty days. Their remains now repose in the Indian Land Cemetery, near Cherryville, Pa. Grandfather George Fen- stermacher was born July 7, 1787, and died May 19, 1853, at the age of sixty-five years ten months and twelve days; his wife, Kate (nee Dreisbach), was born September 1, 1793, and departed this life Mareh 31, 1846, aged fifty-two years and seven months. They were buried in the Stone Church Cemetery near Kreidersville, Pa.

The father of our subjeet was born November 15, 1824, and is therefore at this writing (1894) about seventy years of age. The mother, Sarah Lena (nee Fenstermacher), was born March 22, 1827, and died August 26, 1890, aged sixty-three years five months and four days. Her remains rest in the Union Cemetery at Slatington. George T., of this sketeh, was born in Lehigh Township, Northampton County, Pa., on the 28th of October, 1848. His primary education was received in the schools of the neighborhood. When nearly four- teen years of age he started to assist his father in his oeeupation (he had been a shoemaker, and worked at the same trade for fifty years), and worked on his father's farm for several years, after which, in 1865, he became a student in Professor Sykes' sehool in Bethlehem, Pa. On returning home to his parents from said sehool he resumed his first oeeupation again, assisting his father until January, 1868, when he entered the Wea- versville Academy, at Weaversville, Pa., where he remained as a student for one term.

In April, 1868, he entered the Diekinson Semi- nary at Williamsport, Pa., remaining a student there until 1869, when, being desirous of taking a business course, he entered the Williamsport Busi- ness College, finishing his eourse in that institution in Deeember, 1869. Not being satisfied with the instructions in drafting, architectural drawing, sketehing, etc., already received in schools, he therefore placed himself under the able training of J. B. Otto, then a eivil engineer and arehiteet in the city of Williamsport, Pa., from whom he re- ceived private instruction. During the years

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1870-71 le clerked and had charge of a general mercantile store at Rockville, Pa.

On the 14th of August, 1871, Mr. Oplinger and Miss Amanda A. Remaly were united in marriage. Two sons were born to them, one of whom died in infancy, August 20, 1873. The second son, Thomas R., was born May 31, 1876, and died June 30, 1887, at the age of eleven years and one month. Mrs. Oplinger was born in Slatington, Pa., Janu- ary 5, 1853, and was a daughter of John and La- vina (nee Wert) Remaly. In 1850 her grandfather, Jacob George Remaly, sold to his eldest son, John, fifty acres of farming land, upon which the latter built, in 1850, the first house in Upper Slatington. Soon after building that house John Remaly started the first hotel in Upper Slatington (now called the Neff House), and in January, 1851, se- cured the first license in Upper Slatington. His next step was the laying out of town lots into res- idence sites; upon these he built houses and so started the borough of Slatington. On the 3d of January, 1862, John Remaly died, aged thirty- eight years seven months and twenty-three days. His wife, Lavina, passed away November 15, 1889, aged sixty-five years and twenty-one days.

Purchasing Dr. Mitchell's interest in the Will- iamsport Business College at Williamsport, Pa., Mr. Oplinger finally became a partner with his former instructor, Prof. J. F. Davis, the Principal and manager. The college was afterward con- ducted under the firm name of Davis & Oplinger, Principals. At the time the partnership was formed the Daily Gazette and Bulletin, of Williamsport, published the following: "Professor Davis has now associated with him as partner Prof. G. T. Oplin- ger, than whom as a pen artist no superior can be found in Pennsylvania. We predict for the col- lege increased prosperity under the present effi- cient management." Mr. Oplinger exhibited his artistic pen work in many of the best fairs in the state, and was always rewarded with first premiums and diplomas.

Before concluding this sketch it will not be amiss to present a few extracts from newspapers regarding Mr. Oplinger's pen work. From the Daily Morning Standard, of Williamsport, Pa., September 18, 1872, we quote as follows: "G. T.

Oplinger's specimens of penmanship and pen draw- ing from the Williamsport Commercial College are in the highest style of art, and exhibit rare skill, but the specimen of the rose with its surrounding cards shows the Professor's mastery of the pen in a prominent degree."

From the Allentown Daily Herald, September 27, 1877: "G. T. Oplinger has some pen drawings on exhibition which are receiving more than the ordinary attention of visitors, and that they are entitled to much credit and praise as works of art will be readily admitted by all who see them. Mr. Oplinger is an excellent penman and lias a pecu- liar genius for designs at once striking and novel. He has written the Lord's Prayer on less space than would be occupied by an old silver three- cent piece (that is, one-eighth of an incli smaller in diameter than an old silver three-cent piece), and it has been done in such a manner that the writing can be read with the naked eye. He has also a family record on exhibition. His other drawings are excellent and display great taste and skill."

From the Williamsport Sun, 1871: "Prof. J. F. Davis, the originator and proprietor, has recently taken into partnership Prof. G. T. Oplinger, who comes well recommended as one of tlic very best pen artists in the state, so that with this additional help, we predict for the college still greater suc- cess, not only in increased patronage, which it em- inently deserves, but in usefulness."

Being especially skilled in handling the pen, Mr. Oplinger took charge of tlie penmanship de- partment, and also taught mechanical drawing, mathematics, bookkeeping and telegraphy. Under this management for a few years the college in- creased in attendance until in December, 1873, there were two hundred and ten students enrolled. At that time our subject disposed of his interest in the college to Professor Davis and settled in Slat- ington, where he still resides. In addition to his occupation as an architect, for several years he de- signed in artistic pen work for publishers in that line in New York, East Bridgewater, Mass., and Boston.

The following testimonial was received from Prof. J. L. Voigt, publisher of ornamental and ar-

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tistic pen work at East Bridgewater, Mass., for whom Mr. Oplinger has designed work for publi- cation in the pen art. Prof. L. J. Voigt, of East Bridgewater, in his letter to Mr. Oplinger, dated September 4, 1876, states as follows: "I have on hand now several thousand 'original' cards de- signed by different penmen all over the United States, but almost all of them are of inferior and faulty workmanship. These I have obtained di- rectly and indirectly, and in order, if possible, to get some good, new or useful idea from them which might aid me in producing something new and desirable; but I will say that there isn't a new idea in the whole batch, and those I have on hand of your own workmanship are far superior to any."

Finding that his efforts as an architect were re- warded with flattering suecess, Mr. Oplinger ceased pen work, and thereafter devoted his attention to designing, planning and superintending the eree- tion of buildings. He has been superintending architect of the Bittner House, school building. hose house, five churches, and many of the finest store, hall, and office buildings, and many private dwellings in the borough of Slatington, besides other public and private buildings in different lo- ealities too numerous to mention, that stand as a monument to his efficiency and ability as an architeet.

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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 22

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