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 44
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 44
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 44
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is deceased, and the mother is still residing in the above township. The parents are likewise natives of this county, where Mr. Hall was engaged in farm pursuits until his decease, which occurred May 10, 1893. He was a very popular and prom - inent man in his neighborhood, and served his fel- low-townsmen in the capacity of Road Supervisor. He was a stanch Republican in politics, and a de- voted and consistent member of St. Paul's Re- formed Church.
George D. Hall was given a good education in the public school, and taught for several terms prior to engaging in business for himself. When ready to establish a home of his own he was mar- ried, in 1886, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Jeremiah Esterday, also a native of Lehigh Township, and to them have been born a son and daughter, Nor- man and Esther.
Following in the footsteps of his father, Mr. Hall is a Republican in politics, on which ticket he was appointed Postmaster in 1891. He is popular in his official capacity, and is discharging the duties of his position with characteristic fidelity and greatly to the satisfaction of all concerned. Mr. Hall began his career in the mercantile business as clerk in 1886, and two years later established in business for himself. He enjoys the confidence of the entire community, and is meeting with suc- cess in his chosen vocation.
APT. THEODORE H. HOWELL resides in Allen Township, Northampton County, where he owns the Allen Mills, and may be properly mentioned among the citizens who are contributing their quota toward the development of their adopted county. He is a native of New Jersey, having been born in Warren County, Oct- ober 21, 1824. and is the son of John and Sarah (Titus) Howell, also natives of that state, where the former lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years. The parents are of Welsh ancestry, the
first representatives having located on Long Island when the British had possession of the country.
Our subject was only two years of age when he was deprived by death of his mother's care. When attaining his twentieth year, however, in company with his father, he came to this state, and in 1844 located in Allen Township, this county, where the father was engaged in farm pursuits and at the same time operated a gristmill. He was a Whiig in politics, but during the later years of his life joined the ranks of the Republicans. He died in May, 1890.
Captain Howell was thoroughly traincd to farm pursuits, and also learned milling, which business he has followed his entire life. He received a common-school education, and being fond of road- ing, keeps himself posted upon current events. During the late war he enlisted in October, 1862, becoming a member of Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, of which he was unanimously chosen Captain. He was out under the nine months' call, during which time he participated in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. During the fight at the latter place Captain Howell's regiment was among those who were well to the front, and he there received two wounds, one through his hip, and a ball passing through his arm. He was also at the battle of Fredericksburg, and during his period of service had many narrow escapes. He was honorably dis- charged July 22, 1863, after which he returned homc.
The Captain has served his fellow-townsmen as Auditor of Allen Township for a number of years, and has also occupied the position of Prison In- spector of Northampton County. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and connected with Lafayette Post No. 217, G. A. R., at Easton. He is likewise promi- nent in Masonic circles, belonging to Barger Lodge No. 333, at Allentown.
Captain Howell and Miss Mary, daughter of Daniel Levan, now deceased, but formerly a well known resident of this township, were united in marriage iu 1847. Their union has been blessed by a large family of children, of whom the follow- ing named survive: Daniel L., John T., Jacob F., Thomas F., Naomi, Theodore H., Jr., Harriet, Maria
HON. WEBSTER C. WEISS.
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and Joseph A. In connection with carrying on his milling enterprise Captain Howell is the pro- prietor of a fifty-acre farm, which bears all the improvements usually found upon the cstate of a wide-awake and progressive man. His mill is fit- ted out with machinery of the latest improved methods, and Captain Howell confines himself to merchant milling.
H ON. WEBSTER C. WEISS, a representa- tive citizen of Bethlehem, is agent for Whitney & Kemmerer's wholesale coal and iron business in Mauch Chunk. Besides be- ing prominent in business circles, he is a leading Republican, and has a good reputation as a public speaker. In society and church work lie is also active, and in the various walks of life numbers a host of warm and devoted friends.
Mr. Weiss was born in Weissport, Pa., Septen- ber 23, 1853, being a son of Edward, and grandson of Thomas, Weiss, also natives of Weissport. His paternal great-grandfather was Jacob, and his uncle was Francis Weiss, well known in this locality as a wealthy capitalist. Our subject's father was reared at his birthplace, and assisted his father in boat-building and merchandising. In time he be- came the leading merchant and largest boat-builder of the place; afterwards hc embarked in the iron business and established a foundry in Mauch Chunk, which was one of the largest plants in the Lehigh Valley. During the panic of 1857 he lost his fortune.
In 1862 Edward Weiss became general purchas- ing agent for the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. His death, the result of overwork, oc- curred in 1866, at the age of forty-two years. He was a strong Republican, and volunteered dur- ing the late war, but was rejected on account of poor eyesight. One of the most prominent men of Mauch Chunk, he was active in public works, and re- ligiously was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, formerly Henrietta Steckel, was
a native of Egypt, Lehigh County, and daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Steckel, the latter of whom, though in her ninety-fifth year, is to-day hale and hearty, and still lives in Weissport.
Our subject's mother, who is now sixty-eight years of age, is also making her home in Weiss- port. Of her children, the following are living: Ellen J., Mrs. Lefler, of Weissport; Edwin J., a merchant of Mauch Chunk; Webster C., of this sketch; John O., who is weighmaster for the Le- high Coal and Navigation Company at Mauch Chunk; Jennie, a resident of Washington, D. C., and the widow of James Williams; and Bardine, who is head molder in the Bethlehem Foundry and Manufacturing Company of South Bethlehem. Elizabeth died at the age of thirty-four and Harry at the age of six years.
Webster C. Weiss was reared and educated in Weissport, attending the school only during the winter months. At the early age of twelve years he was thrown upon his own resources, as he was deprived by death of his father's care, and after- wards he and his brother were obliged to support the family. He commenced his business career by driving mules on the gravel bank for the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company; at that time he was so small that a man had to harness thic mules for him. In 1864 he was made crrand boy in the company's office at Mauch Chunk, and June 26, 1872, was promoted to the position of assistant weighmaster.
In 1876 Mr. Weiss was given the foremanship of the boatyards, and the following year was made boating agent of the company with which he had been connected since boyhood. He remained in that position until December, 1884, when he re- signed. His resignation was held over by the company until the following March, when Mr. Weiss insisted on its acceptance. After this was accomplished, he entered the employment of Whit- ney & Kemmerer, of Philadelphia, and took charge of their wholesale coal office at Mauch Chunk, his territory being the Lehigh Valley. Up to the present time he has been in charge of this district, and in 1890 was also made sales agent for the Car- bon Iron and Steel Company, whose furnaces are sit- uated in Parryville, He is very industrious, being
15
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on the road nearly every day, and has never had a reduction of salary or missed receiving the same a single pay day since 1872. In 1886 he came to Bethlehem, where he owns considerable real estate, as well as in Weissport and Allentown.
The marriage of our subject was celebrated in Weissport in 1874 with Miss Hattie E., daughter of the late John A. Schnayberger, who was for- merly a tailor. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Weiss: Ilerda E., a graduate of the high school; Lilly L. and Claire G. The parents are members of the Evangelical Association, belong- ing to Bethany Church, and Mr. Weiss is Superin- tendent of the Sunday-school, which he organized four years ago. For twenty-one years he has served as Sunday-school Superintendent, and has been active in Christian work since joining the church when sixteen years of age. He is one of the Trustees and is Vice-President of the Keystone League of Christian Endeavor, a Director in the Evangelical Publishing Company of Harrisburg, and was Secretary of the first General Layman's Convention of the church held in Philadelphia. Active in the Young Men's Christian Association, he was Vice-President of the first organization here, and frequently delivers lectures before their mem- bers.
In 1891 Mr. Weiss was nominated for Chief Burgess, but having only two days for campaign work was defeated. In the spring of 1894 he was again nominated, the largest vote being cast in this locality that has ever been known, and notwith- standing the fact that the town is largely Demo- cratic, he was defeated by only twenty-three votes. In Weissport he was Justice of the Peace for five years, Auditor for three years and School Director for a like period, being also Secretary in charge of nine schools. During his term there was consider- able discussion concerning text-books, and he voted for and secured a uniform system, paying for books out of the public money; for this he was arrested and indicted by the Grand Jury for misap- propriating public funds. Judge Dreher decided in his favor, and since then the state has provided that books shall be so purchased,
November 6, 1894, Mr. Weiss was elected as Rep- resentative of the Lower House at Harrisburg for
the state of Pennsylvania, being the only success- ful candidate on the Republican ticket in North- ampton County. This is an honor of which he may well be proud, as at the last Presidental elec- tion the county gave a Democratic majority of thirty-five hundred. The esteem in which lie is held in the community is plainly shown in liis nomination for Chief Burgess in 1891 and 1894. On the former occasion he was defeated in the con- test by two hundred and fifty-eight votes, and at the latter time lost the victory by twenty-three only; while upon his election to the House he was three hundred and five votes ahead of his opponent.
Mr. Weiss has been President of the Harrison and Reid Club, and is a member of the County Republican Commitee from the Third Ward. He has passed all the local chairs in the Royal Arca- num, was Grand Chaplain of Pennsylvania for two years, and is now a representative of Lehigh Coun- cil No. 356 to the Grand Council, also holding a commission as the State Deputy-at-Large. He is Deputy Grand Regent of District No. 14, taking in Allentown, Bangor, South Bethlehem and Strouds- burg. A member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, he is Past President of Washington Camp No. 39 of Bethlehem, and also Past District Presi- dent of Northampton County.
ACOB B. MAUSER is general manager of the Mauser Milling Company, who own and con- trol the two well known gristmills located respectively at Laury's and Treichler's. The mill at the former place has been operated by the Mauser Mill Company since January 1, 1893, hav- ing a capacity of two hundred barrels of flour every twenty-four hours. It is fitted with ma- chinery suitable for the best methods of milling, and is classed among the leading industries of the county.
The mill situated at Treichler's also contains the improved roller process and confines its trade to merchant milling, doing no custom work what-
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ever. It has a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels a day, and its principal brand of flour is called the "Banner." The main shipments of the product of the two mills are made to New York and the coal regions in this state. The company give constant employment to twenty-five men, and are meeting with remarkable success in business.
Jacob B. Mauser was born June 14, 1837, in Northampton County, and is a son of Adam and Maria Mauser, natives respectively of Germany and this state. Our subject was reared to man- hood near Easton, where he received his education in the public schools, and when attaining his nine- teenth year emigrated westward to Kansas. This was in 1856, and on arriving in that state he made his home in Allen County, where he was employed at various kinds of business, and remained until the fall of 1860. That year, returning home, he taught school in Northampton and Carbon Coun- ties, which occupation he had also followed for eight terms previous to his entering into the milling business.
In 1863 Mr. Mauser was made Superintendent of what was then known as Laury's gristmill, which was owned by Schall & Horn. Soon after entering upon his duties he became financially in- terested with J. R. Schall & Co., which business was afterward known as thic Lehigh Grain, Coal and Lumber Company. Mr. Mauser was made Secretary of the enterprise during its existence, and at the same time superintended the operation of Laury's mill. He was a resident of the lat- ter placc for eighteen years, and in 1879 removed with his family to Treichler's, where he has made his home since.
In 1879 the firm of George H. Mauser & Co. came into existence, and was afterward changed into the Mauser Mill Company, of which Jacob B. Mauser is General Superintendent and manager. He is a shrewd business man, and, although com- mencing life empty handed, is now numbered among the substantial citizens of the county. He is Director of the National Bank in Catasauqua, and is virtually the founder of both the Laury and Treichler's mills.
In 1865 Mr. Mauser was married to Miss Anna A., daughter of Henry Beaver, a native of Bath,
and now deceased. Their home has been blessed by the advent of four children: Elsie, who is the wife of Dr. Horace Livingood, of Womelsdorf, this state; J. Mark, who is connected with the mill at Laury's; Stella M. and George B. Mr. Mauser is a valued member of the Lutheran Church, and is also a prominent Mason.
IDEON FRACK, a highly respected resi- dent of Cherryville, and for many years extensively identified with the lumber in- terests of this section, is a fine representative of the native-born citizen of Northampton County, and has materially contributed to its welfare. He was born October 12, 1834, and is the son of George and Elizabeth (Schlagel) Frack, both born in this county. Their family is highly respected in the Lehigh Valley, throughout whose extent it is widely known. George Frack was a farmer by occupation, and the possessor of a good estate at the time of his decease.
The subject of this sketch was reared to man's estate and attended the public schools in his na- tive county, remaining under the parental roof until reaching his majority, when he learned the trade of a blacksmith, and followed that occupa- tion for about fourteen years. In 1864 Mr. Frack made a trip to California, going by the way of New York and Panama, and was twenty-eight days en route. He remained in the Golden State for two years, the first twelve months being occu- pied in lumbering, and the last year working at his trade. In the spring of 1866 he went further north, to Montana, in which state he lived for three years, working in the mincs, and thus se- curing the means which gave him a good start in life. Returning to this county in 1869, he was a successful lumber merchant for about twenty years, and now lives retired from the active duties of life, enjoying the rest which has been so well earned, He is the possessor of thirty-five acres of
t e S
th be of is is
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land in Lehigh Township, besides valnable prop- erty in Cherryville.
Mr. Frack was united in marriage in 1871 with Miss Sarah Blose, who was born in this county and is the daughter of Simon and Eliza Blose. Their union has been blessed by the birth of two chil- dren, Miriam A. and Franklin M. The former graduated at the State Normal School at Kutz- town, and is now teaching, and the son is at school.
Religiously Mr. Frack is a devoted member of the Lutheran Church, and takes a deep interest in church work. He is not an active participant in political affairs, preferring to give his attention to his personal pursuits. As he merits, he is highly respected by all who are acquainted with his char- acter and attainments.
A LEXANDER NESBITT ULRICH. The family of which this gentleman is an hon- ored member has been identified with the history of Pennsylvania for nearly two hundred years, the first representative in America having emigrated hither from Alsace, France, in 1708 and made settlement in Annville, Lebanon County. A grandson of that pioneer, our subject's great- grandfather, was an influential attorney of Lebanon County, and during the War of the Revolution served as Adjutant of a Pennsylvania regiment.
The grandfather of our subject, Rev. Daniel UI- rich, D. D., was for many years a noted divine of the Keystone State, and was prominent in the min- istry of the Lutheran Church. For a long time he held a pastorate in Ulrich's Church, Lebanon Coun- ty. In that county he died after seventy-six useful years. Among his children was Danicl, the father of Alexander, who was born in Lebanon County and received a splendid education, being a graduate of Princeton College, which conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. Later he entered upon the study of medicine, and was graduated from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. His skill and
success as a physician became widely known, not only in Reading, Pa., where he had his office, but throughout the surrounding country. In that city his death occurred in 1878. He was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church, and died in that faith,
The maternal ancestors of our subject were of Scotch origin. His mother, Henrictta, was born in Fairfax County, Va., and was a daughter of Alex- ander Nesbitt, a native of Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Dickinson College, who was a success- ful lawyer of the Old Dominion. The grandfa- ther of Mrs. Ulrich, Charles Nesbitt, was born in Montrose, Scotland, being a son of Alexander Nes- bitt, Provost of the University of Edinburgh, Scot- land. Charles Nesbitt was famous throughout the Old World as the most learned Greek scholar of all Europe, and was so mentioned by Hon. James G. Blaine in an oration delivered at the Dickinson Centennial in 1882. His reputation as a man of letters extended into America, so that he was urged to come to the United States and accept the Presi- dency of Dickinson College, then about to be established. He accepted the offer and became the first President of the institution, the success of which was largely enhanced by his fame as a scholar.
The mother of our subject was rcared to woman- hood in the Old Dominion, where lier father was Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Culpeper County, though twenty years afterwards he re- moved to Washington, D. C., where his death oc- curred. Mrs. Henrietta Ulrich passed away in 1862, after having become the mother of four chil- dren, of whom the eldest is the subject of our sketch. He was born in Gettysburg, Pa., February 10, 1853. and was reared to manhood in Reading, where he completed the studies of the high school. His education was further extended by study in New England, after which he engaged in teaching.
Coming to Catasauqua in 1871, Mr. Ulrich be- came a teacher in the schools of the city, of which in 1873 he was elected Principal, and continued thus engaged for six years. Meantime he had commenced the study of law, which he afterwards continued while in charge of a private school. He was admitted to the Bar at Allentown in 1885,
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and has since engaged in practice in Catasauqua. He is a member of the Lehigh County Bar Associa- tion and is well known in the fraternity. In pol- itics he is a Republican, and on that ticket was in 1883 elceted Justice of the Peace and re-elected in 1888 and 1893.
In Catasauqua, July 11, 1878, occurred the mar- riage of A. N. Ulrich and Miss Irene Fuller, the daughter of Charles D. Fuller. They occupy one of the pleasant homes of this city, and arc promi- nent in social circles. One child has blessed their union, Charles F., now a student in the Catasauqua schools.
EFFERSON F. KNECHT. Among the well known and progressive citizens of North- ampton County, who trace their ancestry to Germany, is the subject of this biography, who holds the position of Postmaster at Copella, Moore Township. Since the fall of 1885 he has been engaged in the general mercantile business at this point, and carries a full assortment of dry goods and groceries. His appointment as Post- master was received in 1889, since which time he has had charge of the office.
The original representative of the Knecht family in Northampton County was our subject's great- grandfather, who in a very early day came to Buslıkill Township, where his descendants have mainly resided since then. Our subject was born November 19, 1860, in this county, of which his parents, Jackson and Phœbe (Davinson) Knecht, were likewise natives. His childhood years were passed upon his father's farm in Bushkill Town- ship. In attendance at the public schools of the district and in the work of the farm, his early years passed pleasantly but uneventfully. Later he attended Bryant & Stratton's Business College in Philadelphia, from which practical and well known institution he was afterward graduated.
For some three years afterward he taught school, in which profession he was successful.
In the year 1885 Mr. Knecht formed a partner- ship with A. H. Miller, for the purpose of carrying on a general mercantile business, the firm title be- ing Knecht & Miller. This connection continued until 1890, when by mutual consent the partner- ship was dissolved, the senior member of the firm succeeding to the business and becoming sole pro- prietor. His methods are upright and progressive, and he ranks among the leading young business incn of the county. As Postmaster he has been a faithful public servant, and enjoys the confidence of his constituents and the esteem of his many friends.
The marriage of Mr. Knecht and Miss Ellen J. Schall was celebrated December 24, 1887. Her fa- ther, Jacob Schall, is a resident of Moore Township, where he is engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Knecht are the parents of two children, a son and daughter, named respectively Warren J. and Eva M. The family move in the best social circles and are highly respected. In civic societies Mr. Knecht is interested and belongs to Aluta Lodge No. 488, I. O. O. F., of Aluta, Pa. He is a member of the Lutheran Church of Moorestown, and is one of the active workers of the congre- gation.
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H ENRY R. BLOCKER. The marble inter- ests of Seigfried's Bridge find an able representative in our subject, who has been engaged in business there since 1875. Hc has a large plant, and manufactures all kinds of monuments and tombstones, together with door and window sills. He is an expert workman, and never allows an order to leave his works until per- sonally inspected by himself. He is a native of Lchigh County, and his birth occurred in Septem- ber, 1855. His parents, Frederick and Catherine Blocker, the former of whom is deceased, were na- tives of the Fatherland, and resided in this coun-
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try for over forty years, living in Whitehall, where Mrs. Blocker still makes her home.
When a lad of eleven years, Henry R. Blocker began working out by the month on farms in the neighborhood, continuing in this manner for four years. In the mean time he received a common- school education, attending during the dull sea- sons of farm work. In 1872 he found employ- ment in the Coplay Cement Works, where he re- mained for several years, until learning his pres- ent trade. He served an apprenticeship of three years with E. H. Lentz, after which he worked as a journeyman for some time, and then started in business for himself at Seigfried's Bridge. He has been quite successful in this venture, and has many warm friends who delight to do him honor.
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