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 26
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 26
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 26
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has added to the knowledge acquired in school. As a citizen he maintains a decp interest in every- thing pertaining to the welfare of the people, and gives his hearty and enthusiastic support to all progressive mcasures for the benefit of the com- munity.
The marriage of Mr. Titlow occurred January 7, 1888, at which time he was united with Miss Maggie J., daughter of Hon. James F. Kline, formerly a resident of Orefield, Lehigh County. One child has blessed this union, a son named Kline R. Mr. Titlow gives his support to the principles of the Democratic party, upon which ticket he has been elected to various positions of trust and responsibility. In 1893, under the sec- ond administration of President Cleveland, he was appointed Postmaster at Trexlertown, and has since filled that position with efficiency and success. Previous to his appointment as Postmaster he was deputy to the foriner Postmaster, V. L. Schmoyer.
In his social connections Mr. Titlow is a member of the Trexlertown Mutual Aid Association, also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belong- ing to Macungie Lodge No. 231, at Fogelsville. He is interested in educational matters, and is serving as School Director of Upper Macungie Township, being the present Treasurer of the Board. In business he has already gained a high degrec of success and a substantial standing in commercial circles.
T HOMAS MCDONOUGH HIRST is one of the oldest and most reliable contractors and builders in Bethlehem, having been very successful in his profession, and has erected much of the finest work in this place. He is quite original in his incthod, and many finc architectural piles stand as monuments to his skill and ability. Born in Bath, Northampton County, Mr. Hirst is the son of Hon. Joseph Hirst, who was a native of
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the same county. The date of the birth of our subject is October 25, 1827.
Hon. Joseph Hirst was an agriculturist, and at one time ran the Bath Hotel. His death oc- curred in that place when he was fifty-seven years of age. In politics he took an active part, for two terms represented his fellow-citizens in the Legis- lature, being elected on the Democratic ticket, and was also Justice of the Peace for many years, oc- cupying an enviable position in the esteem of his friends and neighbors. His wife, formerly Mary Gangewere, was born in Allentown, and was a sis- ter of Col. Abram Gangewere, who won that title in the War of 1812. Mrs. Hirst died when over seventy-six years of age. Both she and her hus- band werc devoted members of the Lutheran Church, and of the fifteen children who graced their union, all but one lived to maturity, but only eight now survive.
The early years of Thomas Hirst were passed in his native town, assisting his father on the farm and attending the district schools until attaining his eighteenth year, when he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade under Charles Nagle. At the end of three years he engaged in contract- ing and building for himself, and continued to make his field of operations in Bath until the spring of 1865. That year saw him located in Bethlehem, where he has since continued working at his life occupation. Among the many good buildings he has erected, we mention a few: the Myers' Block, Reigle's Block, the Lutheran Church at Bath, the Mary Dixon Memorial Chapel, of Li- titz, Riegel & Cortright's Globe Store on Main Street, Rauch's jewelry store, the German Evan- gelical Church, the Presbyterian Chapel, and the handsome residences of George H. Meyers, Dr. J. P. Scholl, Dr. Schultz, and many others. In 1893 he built his own beautiful residence from original designs, and indeed has been his own architect on many of his most elegant buildings.
In Bath, in 1850, Mr. Hirst married Miss Mary J., daughter of Henry Beaber, a native of that city, and to them eight children were born. Charles died in his thirty-fourth year; Mary is the wife of A. C. P. Laury; Alice dicd at the age of twenty- nine years; Gussie is Mrs. Edwin Woodling, of
Bethlehem; James departed this life in 1888, at Washington, D. C .; William and Francis are car- penters, working with their father, and Annie completcs the family. They are members of the Moravian Church, and are highly respected in so- cial circles.
During the busy season Mr. Hirst gives employ- ment to from twenty to thirty men, and in addi- tion to the hundreds of dwelling houses con- structed by him in this immediate vicinity, he has also erected residences in Coplay, Catasauqua, Mauch Chunk, Hellertown, Lititz and Easton. Formerly Mr. Hirst was a member of the Odd Fel- lows' society and Sons of Temperance. A Repub- lican in politics, his first vote having been cast for Lincoln on his first nomination, he lias been stanch and true to the party ever since; and though many times urged to become a member of the Council from the Third Ward, he has always de- clined to permit his name to be used, though his election was assured.
D ENNIS MOYER. The gentleman whose biographical notice it is now our purpose to give, is filling the responsible office of Justice of the Peace of Towamensing Township, Carbon County. He is a very popular and prom- inent citizen of that locality, and was born in this county January 15, 1847. His parents, Lewis and Salinda (Krum) Moyer, were also born in this state, and arc at present residing in the above township. They have nine children: Lizzie, who married Aquilla Christman, and Peter, George, Ellen, Rob- crt, Mary, Tilley, Benjamin and Maggie, at liome.
Mr. Moyer, of this sketch, has spent his entire life in his native county, in whose schools he ac- quired a good education. Being reared to a full understanding of agricultural work, he chose that as his vocation in life, and in 1876 made settle- ment on his present valuable estate, which com- prises one hundred and five broad acres. This he
GEORGE DAVIES.
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has placed under improvement, and in return de- rives from the soil a good income, so that he is en- abled to enjoy all the comforts of life.
Dennis Moyer has been prominently identified with the history of his community for many years and was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in 1891. He makes no excuse for his Republican principles, but glories in the future he sees for his favorite party. He is a public-spirited citizen, in- terested in all improvements, and is one of the township's most influential men. He belongs to the Reformed Church, and in the society near his home holds the office of Deacon.
In addition to looking after his farming inter- ests, Mr. Moyer is the proprietor of a general storc, which he carries on in a portion of his residence. He carries dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, and in fact all those articles which arc used in the country household. He is well known throughout the township as one of its honest and upright cit- izens, and we are therefore pleased to bc. able to present this brief sketch of his life to our readers.
EORGE DAVIES, formerly the senior member of the firm of Davies & Thomas, and one of the leading business men of Catasauqua, was born in Glamorganshire, Wales, in the village of Merthyr-Tydvil, April 9, 1837. He was the son of Daniel Davies, likewise a native of Wales, and a molder by trade, who in 1846 brought his family to America and for a time was employed in New York City. Later he followed his trade in Phoenixville, Tamaqua and Weatherly. Coming to Catasauqua in 1850, he took charge of the molding department of the Crane Iron Works, manufacturing castings on contract.
Severing his connection with the Crane Iron Company in 1865, Daniel Davies, with William Thomas, bought the old planing mill in East Cata- sauqua and opened a foundry and machine shop, in which three months later our subject joined them. After two years the firm of Davies & Thomas was
dissolved, Mr. Thomas retiring from the partner- ship. The title then became Davies & Son, and the business was thus conducted until the death of the father, in April, 1876, at sixty-three years of age. He was a man of stanch integrity, a sincere mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and a public- spirited citizen of his adopted country. His wife, Mary Philips, was born in Wales, and died there in 1839. They had three children: John, who died in 1862; George, and Mary A., who married James Thomas.
The first nine years of the life of our subject were passed uneventfully in the land of his birth. He came to Catasauqua with his father in 1850, and for two years worked at the molder's trade, after which he was apprenticed to the machinist's trade with the Crane Iron Company. For a time he worked under David Jones, later under Hopkin Thomas, spending five years at the trade. In 1862 he enlisted in the Fourth Pennsylvania Mili- tia, under Colonel Cluty, of Mauch Chunk, and went south into Maryland, but returned with- out participating in active service. In 1863 he was mustercd into Colonel Good's regiment, the Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Infantry, and marched with his company to Gettysburg, thence to Ft. Richmond, Philadelphia, and was honorably dis- charged at the expiration of his period of service.
At different times Mr. Davies had been in Parry- ville, and at the close of the war he returned thither and took charge of the machine shops there for a short time. From that time until his deatlı, he resided in Catasauqua, with the exception of about five years (1871 to 1876), when he had charge of the Carbon Iron Works at Parryville. In 1876 he returned to Catasauqua, but the works were not opened until the spring of 1879, when James Thomas bought a one-half interest in the concern. Since then various improvements have been made, and the class of work now turned out is superior in every respect.
The firm has manufactured castings for many important enterprises, including the underground electric railway in Washington, D. C., the Broad- way cable in New York, the East River Tunnel, the Hudson River Tunnel, and the Traction and People's cable lines in Baltimore. They also man-
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ufacture car castings and are the proprictors and original manufacturers of the Davies & Thomas engine. The works occupy ten acres, the foundry covering one acre, and the machine shop 135x50 feet. There are four large boilers, two blowers operated by two Davies & Thomas engines of one hundred and fifteen horse-power, and fifteen cranes, two of which, made by William Thomas, will lift fifteen tons each.
With a number of other important concerns the firm of Davies & Thomas is identified, among which may be mentioned the Wahnetah Silk Com- pany, of which Mr. Thomas is President, and our subject was a Director. They are also the principal stockholders in the Electric Light & Power Company, which was established in 1890. The power house is situated on the Lehigh River adjacent to the canal, and the enterprise has proved an assured success. Its officers are: Roland Davies, President; Roland Thomas, Treasurer; and Charles R. Horn, Secretary. The Edison system is used and the plant is the finest in the entire state.
Mr. Davies was also a Director in the Bethlehem Electric Light & Power Company, which was started in 1882, and of which James Thomas is President. In addition to his clegant residence on Second and Race Streets, erected in 1868, he was the owner of valuable real estate in West Bethle- hem, and was a stockholder in the Catasauqua Na- tional Bank. His marriage occurred in Catasau- qua in 1864, and united him with Mary Evans, a native of Wales. Her father, Thomas Evans, emi- grated from Wales to America, and settling in Catasauqua, here followed the trade of a black- smith until his death. Mrs. Davies received an excellent education in Tremont Normal School, and was a successful teacher prior to her marriage. She has four children now living: Roland, Presi- dent of the Electric Light & Power Company; Bessie; George, a student of the University of Pennsylvania, and James, at home.
Socially Mr. Davies was identified with the Ma- sonic fraternity, belonging to Porter Lodge No. 268, at Catasauqua. As a member of the Repub- lican party, he took an intelligent interest in po- litical matters, though not willing to allow the use of his name for official positions, He did his ut-
most to advance the welfare of the school system, and by his efficient service as a member of the School Board was instrumental in promoting the grade of scholarship in the Catasauqua schools. In the Methodist Episcopal Church he served as Trus- tee, Steward and Class-leader. He was recognized as one of the best and most public-spirited citizens of this community, and his death, October 1, 1894, was deeply mourned.
DWIN F. ESHLEMAN, M. D., is a well known and prosperous physician and sur- geon of Parryville, Carbon County, which has been his home since September, 1893. He is succeeding in establishing a good practice in this place, and enjoys the patronage of many of the best families of the locality. He is a young man of marked ability, and judging by what he has ac- complished in the past, lias a brilliant future in store.
The birth of the Doctor occurred July 30, 1865, in Lchigh County, his parents being Jacob and Sophia (Werley) Eshileman, who are residents of Lynn Township, Lehigh County. In that town- ship the boyhood of our subject was passed une- ventfully, his time being divided between farm work and attendance at the public schools. For three terms he further pursued his studies in the Pennsylvania State Normal School at Kutztown, and subsequently he became a teacher. For six terms he had charge of schools in North Whitehall Township and in his home district. In 1890, while still engaged in teaching school, lie took up the study of medicine by himself, and devoted much time and energy to this work.
The young inan entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia in 1890, and pursued a course of study for the next three years. He was graduated from that celebrated institution after completing the required course of instruction, May 2, 1893, and established himself in practice the fol- lowing fall at this place. In order to keep thor-
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oughly abreast with the times and diseoveries in his profession, he became identified with the Le- high Valley Medical Society, and subseribes to the leading medical journals. In his politieal belief he is a Republican, and religiously holds member- ship with the Lutheran denomination.
In the year 1892 Dr. Eshleman was united in marriage, in Lehigh County, witlı Miss Lizzie Scheirer, who is a daughter of Charles Scheirer, one of the respected and well-to-do residents of that county. To the Doetor and his estimable wife has been born a little son, to whom they have given the name of Gerald. The young couple have a pleasant home, and during their residenec in Parryville have made many sineere friends, by whom they are held in high esteem.
F P. SEMMEL, a well known citizen of Le- highton, claims Pennsylvania as the state of his nativity, for he was born m Union- ville, Lehigh County, on the 25th of April, 1847. His grandfather came to America from Germany, and was one of the earliest settlers of North White- hall, Lehigh County, so that our subject is a rep- resentative of one of the pioneer families of this section of the state. He acquired his education in the common schools, and in a private school in Schnecksville, which his father, Joshua Semmel, and other prominent citizens of that village in- stituted.
After leaving the school room Mr. Semmel be- gan to earn his own livelihood, serving as clerk in various country stores in Lehigh County. He was thus employed until 1864, when he came to Lehighton, Carbon County, and served for two years as Assistant Postmaster. On the expiration of that period he began elerking for Thomas S. Beck, and was afterwards manager and bookkeeper in Joseph Obert's store, and in a pork packing es- tablishment for several years.'
Mr. Semmel was united in marriage with Miss Sallie J. Heberling, daughter of the late Judge
Daniel Heberling. He then embarked in business for himself, and was very successful in his under- takings, earning a handsome competency. He was connected with many important enterprises, being interested in the Lehigh Stove & Manufacturing Company, the Lehigh Valley Emery Wheel Com- pany, the Continental Slate Company, and ereeted some of the largest and finest business houses in Lehighton, but in the financial erisis in 1877 he lost heavily in all his enterprises. He then sold out and was appointed Deputy Sheriff, in which eapaeity he served during the exeiting Molly Ma- guire times, during which seven men were executed, the duty devolving upon Sheriff J. W. Rauden- bush and his deputy.
Mr. Semmel was twice elected Burgess of Le- highton, and at various times was elected to fill other municipal offices. He served as Deputy Pro- thonotary of Carbon County, and in the various positions which he filled, discharged his duties with credit to himself and satisfaction to his eonstitu- ents. He has lived during all this time in Lehigh- ton, with the exception of three years spent in Maueh Chunk and two years passed in Weatherly. In politics he has been a life-long Democrat, and was nominated as Register and Recorder by the Democratic convention in 1890, but by trickery in his own party, lost the election by a few votes.
Mr. Semmel is now serving as general eastern manager of the Washington National Building & Loan Association of Washington, D. C. His life has been an honorable and upright one, and he stands high in the community, having the warm re- gard of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
ALENTINE F. NEUMAYER, a representa- tive citizen of Normal Square, Mahoning Township, Carbon County, is engaged in the retail and wholesale butcher business, and by his well known, honorable qualities has long com- manded the confidence of the entire community.
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In addition to his regular pursuit, he has been to some extent interested in farming and has derived a good income from the manufacturer of bone ineal for fertilizing purposes.
Our subjeet's birth occurred in this county May 16, 1855. His father, Valentine Neumayer, was a native of Alsace, Germany, and his mother, who before her marriage was Emma Werstine, was a native of Baden. The father emigrated to America when about twenty years of age, and finally made a settlement within the limits of Carbon County, becoming a resident of Mahoning Township, where he continued to live until his death, in the year 1879. The boyhood days of subject were passed on his father's farm and for years he gave his time largely to assisting in running the homestead. Such education as he possesses was largely obtained in the district seliools in the neighborhood of his home and in the Lehighton High School, where he was a student for a short time.
When seventeen years of age, Mr. Neumayer be- gan learning the butcher's business, serving an ap- prenticeship of over three years at Lehighton, and subsequently was employed in the green grocer's trade at Maueh Chunk, Pa. About 1874, he com- menced running on the Erie Canal and as a sailor on Lake Ontario, following that vocation for several seasons. Returning to this county in 1881, he was engaged in the wholesale and retail butch- er's trade with J. H. Miller, under the firm name of Muller & Co. Their main place of business was at Coaldale, Schuylkill County, and the partner- ship continued for a number of years. Of late Mr. Neumayer has been alone in business at Normal Square, and affords employment to two men in the butehering department, and also employs other help as he finds it necessary. He owns fifty-five acres of land in Mahoning Township, on which he keeps a hired man, but personally superintends its management. He has been prospered in his busi- ness ventures, and has a regular line of customers whom he supplies.
In the year 1883 Mr. Neumayer married Savan- nah Eberts, the daughter of Peter and Mary Eberts, of Mahoning Township. To this union were born three children, two of whom are living, namely: Harry and Emma. Charles is deceased, Mr. and
Mrs. Neumayer are members of the Reformed Church.
In his political affiliations, our subject is a Re- publican, having been identified with that party sinee obtaining his majority. In all works of publie improvement, he takes an interested part and is in favor of good educational facilities, and of everything tending toward the elevation of society. From his youth he has been obliged to make his own livelihood, and by his own industri- ous and persevering qualities has succeeded in his various enterprises, becoming well-to-do.
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J OSEPH D. BETZ is Superintendent of the Unger Blackboard Factory, one of the prom- inent industries of Slatington, with which he first became identified in 1883. He has full control of the coneern, which is one of the largest in Pennsylvania, and which employs many men during the busy season. The goods manu- factured by the company are shipped to all parts of the country. Our subject is a thorough work- man, and lias the details of the business at his fingers' ends. In him his employers place the ut- most confidence, both as to his faithfulness and ability, for he lias shown himself to be eminently worthy of the trust.
A native of the Keystone State, Joseph D. Betz was born in Schuylkill County on the 10th of April, 1845. His parents were Isaac and Rebecca (Hawk) Betz, also natives of Schuylkill County. The early years of our subjeet were passed mainly in Columbia County, this state, where he received only limited school privileges, and when quite young eommeneed learning the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked for six years. Although he had not yet attained his majority he was an expert workman, possessing a thorough knowledge of the various branches of the blacksmith's business, and from 1867 until the present time lias been contin- uously engaged in the same occupation. Endowed
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with much mechanical ability, this talent has been of great use to him in his enterprises.
In polities Mr. Betz affiliates with the Republi- can party, and is a patriotic citizen, holding his own interests secondary to those of the general good. He belongs to the Patriotie Order Sons of America, and is a member of the Knights of Malta. With his wife, who was before her marriage Miss Elizabeth Chester, he is an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church of this eity. This worthy couple are the parents of four daughters and a son, their names being as follows: Addie, Ella, Bertha, Clara and Joseph, Jr. Temperate in all his habits, Mr. Betz is a man of fine physique and good health. He numbers many friends in the best circles of the town, and being honorable and upright in his business relations, well merits the high regard of all.
T ILGHMAN DREISBACH is one of the three Auditors of Franklin Township, and is a well known citizen of Carbon County, of which he is a native. He was born February 28, 1837, and grew to man's estate on his father's farm, where he obtained a good knowledge of ag- ricultural affairs. He received his early education in the old-fashioned schools of his day, and has had no advantages beyond those there afforded.
Daniel and Rebecca (Solt) Dreisbach, the parents of our subject, were natives of the Keystone State, and the ancestors of the father were long num- bered among the early settlers of the Lehigh Val- ley. Daniel Dreisbach was reared to the occupa- tion of farming and became quite well-to-do. He was the father of a large family, nine of whom are living, and are named as follows: Salinda; Han- nah, wife of Daniel Krum; Elizabeth, Mrs. Henry Mertz; Harrison, Lewis, Tilghman, Joseph, Charles and Amelia.
In 1858 Tilghman Dreisbach was married to . Mary A. Kreamer, and to them were born three children, namely: Julia A., wife of Dr. T. J. Solt;
Martha R., Mrs. Orlando Boyer, and Lilly. Mrs. Dreisbach is a sister of Dr. J. C. Kreamer, of Aquashieola, whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume. She is a native of this county, and grew to womanhood on her father's old home- stead in Franklin Township.
Shortly after the elose of the Civil War our sub- jeet began lumbering in Penn Forest Township, this county, which business he followed for a num- ber of years. He then returned to his farm in Franklin Township, which he has operated ever since. His place, which comprises ninety-eight acres, is well cultivated and is one of the most de- sirable farms in the vieinity. In March, 1865, our subject enlisted in Company G, of the Two Hun- dred and Fifteenth Pennsylvania Infantry, and did guard duty in the states of Delaware and Maryland for about four months. He has served as a School Director in his home district for a number of years, and has been President and Treasurer of the Board. For several years he has acted in the capacity of Auditor of the township, and has given good satisfaction by his fidelity to his duties. In politics he is a Republican, and uses his influence in furthering every enterprise for public improvement and advancement. He enjoys the entire confidence of the business com- munity in which he resides, his word being consid- ered as good as his bond. A prominent member of the United Evangelieal Church, he has served as a Class-leader and Trustee at various times, and gives liberally of his means to the advancement of church interests.
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