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 58

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 58
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 58
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 58

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In 1875 Mr. Schmidt was appointed to the re- sponsible position of Steward, and has served as

such since. In the truest sense he is a self-made man, owing entirely to his worthy characteristics his success in life. Frugal and industrious, he has constantly, by the aid of his faithful wife, laid aside each year some money which he has invested in land. He now owns two hundred and seventy- ninc acres under good cultivation.

The wife and helpmate of Mr. Schmidt was for- merly Miss Mary Karch, daughter of George Karch, of Bushkill Township, this county. Nine children have blessed their union, namely: Mary E., Emma C. (wife of Charles Kleppinger), Charles W., Frank- lin H., Alice A., Arthur G., Nellie E., Florence I. and Victor R.

Mr. Schmidt uses the right of franchise in favor of the Democratic party, though he is not prom- inent as a politician, preferring to give his labors to his daily work and important duties. He is a member of the Dryland Lutheran Church in Lower Nazareth Township. He enjoys the respect of all who know him, and is entitled to great credit and admiration for the manner in which he has met every trust reposed in him.

N ARY PETER. This gentleman will be counted among the old residents of Le- high County, for he was born in Heidel- berg Township November 6, 1831. He is one of the wide-awake and enterprising farmers of White- hall Township, where he has one hundred acres of land, well tilled and under a high state of cultiva- tion, and the many improvements on the place in- dicate the thrift and energy of the owner.

Daniel and Maria (Fenstermacher) Peter, the parents of our subject, were likewise natives of this county, while the paternal grandfather of our subject came from Germany and located in the above county. There were four brothers who made the trip to America at the same time, and they all made a settlement in the vicinity of Slatington.

Our subject was reared to man's estate on his father's farm, and received a fair education in the German language, and at the same time ac-

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quired a good knowledge of the English tongue. He has followed farm pursuits throughout his en- tire life, although for several years he added to this branch of work the trade of a tailor, which he carried on for a time in Illinois. February 27, 1857, Mr. Peter was married to Miss Sarena Scheiry, a native of North Whitehall Township, this coun- ty, and a daughter of Daniel and Elizabetlı (House- man) Scheiry. To them have been born the fol- lowing eight children: Ellen J. (Mrs. David New- hart), Robert, James W., Joseph D., Lewis F., George, Mary (Mrs. A. Betts) and Ida.

Our subject is the proprietor of one hundred acres of valuable land, and, as a leading and influ- ential citizen, has the confidence and high regard of a large circle of friends and acquaintances in his community. In political matters he is a stanch Republican, and a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church.

ILLIAM H. RICE, the late Treasurer of Northampton County, is a well known and influential citizen of Beth- lehem. He comes of a good family, who settled at a very early day in this county, his great-grand- father being a native of England. His grandfather, Peter Rice, was born in Easton, and his death oc- curred when his son William B., our subject's father, was twelve years of age. The latter was a blacksmith by trade, and in his youth hired out to a farmer in Saucon Township, where he learned his trade. Later lie came to Bethlehem, becoming fore- man of the coach manufactory of J. S. Leveres. He afterward engaged in this business on his own ac- count, manufacturing carriages, and also engaging in general blacksmith work at the corner of Broad and New Streets until 1862. His death occurred December 19, 1893. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, but later became identified with the Reformed Church. At one time he was a member of the Council. His wife, Mary A. Weider, was born in Lehigh County, her parents being Moravians. The mother is still living on the

old home, though now nearly eighty years of age. Of her five children, three sons and one daughter are still living.

William H. Rice was born on the corner of Broad and New Streets in this city, February 3, 1843, and attended the public schools of this place. When a lad of thirteen he worked on a farm for a year, after which he was employed at driving cat- tle from the Blue Mountains to Chester. After- ward he was in his father's shop until reaching his majority, when lie became a partner in the business with his brother George, his father at that time re- tiring from active business. Mr. Rice continued operations at the old place of business until Jan- nary 4, 1891, when he became Treasurer of the county.

In the spring of 1890 our subject was nominated on the Democratic ticket for Treasurer, and though there were eight candidates he succeeded in win- ning the nomination on the sixth ballot. In the fall of that ycar he was elected by a majority of forty-five hundred, leading the ticket. On the 5th of January, 1891, he took the oath of office, and faithfully served in this most responsible position for three years, retiring from the same on the 2d of January, 1894. During this time he traveled almost constantly, covering a distance of nearly eighteen thousand miles. He was under bonds for $120,000, and his duties were discharged to the satisfaction of all parties.

In Bethlehem Mr. Rice has built several resi- dences, two of these being located on Broad Street and two on Main Street. His own residence he erected in 1887. In public enterprises and the upbuilding of the town he has been actively inter- ested. His father was one of the first men to help organize the Bethlehem Iron Company and was a stockholder at the time of his death. Mr. Rice is a stockholder in the Bethlehem Gas Company and was for a time a Director in the Bethlehem Iron Company.

In 1866 occurred tlic marriage of William H. Rice and Miss Ellen R. Blcan, who was born in Al- lentown and is a daughter of Jacob Blean, of that place. Mr. Rice is a Democrat in politics and for two years has been on the County Committee. For three years prior to his acceptiong the office of

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Treasurer he was one of the City Council, being Chairman of the same. Socially he belongs to Monoeaey Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is a Trustee in the Reformed Church. He is a well informed and genial gentleman, with whom it is a pleasure to hold conversation.

W ILLIAM H. STOUDT. No better rep- resentative of honest, upright man- hood can be found than the above- named gentleman, an influential citizen of West Bethlehem, where he is carrying on a large busi- ness as a brick contractor and plasterer. If for no other reason, he deserves representation in this volume for the noble part which he played during the late war.

Our subject was born in Moore Township, North- ampton County, August 22, 1839, and is the son of John Stoudt, born in Monroe County, this state, where he carried on his trade of a millwright un- til removing to his fine farm in Moore Township. His wife, prior to her marriage Mary Leh, was born there, and was the daughter of John Leh, a farmer, who is now deceased. Mrs. Stoudt departed this life at the age of seventy-seven years, firm in the faith of the Reformed Church.

William H., of this sketch, was the third in order of birth of the parental family of eight children, and was reared in Moore Township, and there at- tended the district school. He remained at liome, assisting his father on the farm, until attaining his eighteenth year, when he began learning the briekmason's trade, working in Nazareth. He was thus employed when, in 1862, he offered his ser- viees in defense of his country, and became a member of Company H, One Hundred and Fifty- third Pennsylvania Infantry. With his regiment he participated in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and at the latter placc was taken prisoner by the enemy, but was soon paroled. With his company young Stoudt was mustered out in 1863, and, returning home in the fall of that year, began farming, becoming the owner of a good estate in Betlilchem Township. He was

thus occupied for a quarter of a century, but in 1888 abandoned that industry and, moving into West Bethlehem, worked at his trade until 1890, when he began briek contraeting, which he has since followed with signal sueeess, erecting some of the best business blocks and residences in the city. He gives employment in the busy season to twenty or thirty men, and the work when given in his charge always proves satisfactory.

Mr. Stondt was married in 1863 to Miss Mary A. C. Paulus, a native of Bethlehem Township, and to them have been born three children: Howard, of West Bethlehem; Oscar, engaged in business in Philadelphia; and Clayton, who is at home with his parents. Socially our subject belongs to J. K. Taylor Post, G. A. R., and in religious affairs is a devoted member of Christ Reformed Church. He is a believer in and a supporter of Republican prineiples, and as an honest and intelligent man commands the respect of all.

R EV. CHARLES J. COOPER, A. M., has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Muhlenberg College, of Allentown, Pa., since 1876, and during the years which have since passed his history has been elosely interwoven with that of the college. He was born in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County, Pa., April 1, 1847, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Horlacher) Cooper. He prepared for college in Allentown Seminary, and afterward joined the Sophomore class in Pennsylvania College, of Gettysburg. He was graduated from that institution in the Class of '67, at the age of twenty years. He then en- tered upon the study of theology, in order to fit himself for the work of the ministry, becoming a student in the Theological Seminary of Phila- delphia, from which he was graduated in 1870. The same year he was ordained to the ministry in the Lutheran Church. It was also during 1870, on the 4th of October, that he was united in mar- riage with Miss Emma S. Knause, of Philadelphia.

After his ordination, Rev. Mr. Cooper accepted a call from St. Peter's Church in South Bethle-

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hem, Pa., where he remained from 1870 until 1886. During that time he also served the congregations at Freemansburg and Lower Saucon. He was Sec- retary of the Second Conference for a number of years, and of the Ministerium in 1884 and 1885. It was in 1886 that Mr. Cooper came to Allen- town, in order to give his undivided attention to his labors in behalf of the college. As before stated, he was made a member of the Board of Trustees in 1876, and in 1884 was made its Treas- urer, which position he still fills. He has also been financial agent since 1886, and his efforts for the improvement of the finances of the college have met with marked success. He is plain and unassuming in manner, and has won the regard and gratitude of those interested in the church and college.

ILLIBALD KUEBLER. Among the worthy German-American citizens who have been prominent factors in the prosperity of Easton is this gentleman, who has made his home here for forty-three years. He is sole proprietor of a large brewery, in connection with which he runs a bottling establishment. He has invested considerable money in real estate in and near this place, and as a result of years of in- dustrious and enterprising business management has accumulated a goodly fortune.

A native of Baden, Germany, Mr. Kuebler was born November 12, 1826, to Andrew and Noth- purga (Baechle) Kuebler. The former was a farmer and dealer in heavy timber in the Fatherland, where he continued to reside until his death. Of his eight children our subject is the only survivor. He came to the United States in 1850, and first lo- cated in Philadelphia, where he remained for two years in the employ of Engle & Wolf, brewers. This business he had learned in his native land, and worked at the calling until coming to Penn- sylvania. In 1852 he concluded to leave Phila- delphia, and on coming to Easton engaged in part- nership with a Mr. Glenz. They started a brewery in the rear of what is now called "Nightingale's Corner," and conducted the same for about two years.

It was in 1855 that the brewery was established

at the present place, and before many years had passed their increasing trade made it necessary to enlarge the plant. In 1876 Mr. Kuebler became sole owner of the business. He is a man of con- siderable mechanical genius and has patented some valuable and labor-saving brewery machinery, one of these being called the Automatic Reversing Ma- chinc. The capacity of the brewery is about twen- ty-five thousand barrels per year. Mr. Kuebler is a first-class brewer, and to his own efforts is due the fact of his success. The latest improvements used in the trade are to be found in his establish- ment, where becr, porter, export lager, etc., are manufactured. In 1862 he took the first premium for brewed lager at New York, the first award of the kind ever given in the United States.

In politics our subject is an active Democrat and in former years especially was a leading man in his party. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In 1857 he married Miss Mary, daugh- ter of Christian Klusmeyer, of Easton, and they have five living children, namely: William, Charles, Frank, Kate and Mary. The eldest son, William, is general superintendent of the brewery, and is also a Director in the Northampton County Bank. He is a man of good business ability, and progress- ive in his ideas. By his marriage with Miss Alice Thume he has one child, Karl Ferdinand. The second son, Charles, is manager of the bottling works and general bookkeeper of botlı establish- ments. The third son, Frank, assists his brother in the brewery. Mr. Kuebler is now erecting a building which will be used as a stable to accom- modatc the forty head of horses utilized in the business and also to be used as the bottling works. This building will be on the grounds of the brew- ery, in connection with the other structures. The trade will be carefully looked after, and all orders will receive the prompt attention in the future that has been given them in the past.

H ARRY WILBUR, a civil engineer and transit-man for the Lehigh Valley, and a resident of Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pa., was born at Bethlehem, February 19, 1866. The father was Warren W. Wilbur, a na-

W. KUEBLERIBA

CTILE

THE BREWERY, BOTTLING ESTABLISHMNIE

MMESIDENCE OF W. KUEBLER, EASTON, PA.

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tive of Mystic, Conn. He was a coal shipper, and was a man of energetic character, well adapted to the upbuilding of material interests. Going to Philadelphia, he there followed his trade for some time, and then returned to Mauch Chunk, Carbon County, Pa., and engaged with the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. About the year 1859 he located in Bethlehem, engaging in business at South Bethlehem as a coal agent. He next entered the hardware business, later worked as a clerk in a coal office, and from that position he was pro- moted to be head shipper for the Schruyder Coal Company, and represented them in Bethlehem un- til his demise at that place, at the age of sixty- two. He was a Democrat in politics, and a zeal- ous member of the Presbyterian Church.

The mother of Harry Wilbur, Helena Wilbur, was born at Pottsville, Schuykill County, and was the daughter of Colonel Henry. The Colonel was a coal operator and shipper at Philadelphia, and a native of this state. He was a prominent mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. The family were Quakers, and belonging as they did to the Society of Friends, they believed in no outward ceremony, no religious observances, but held that no form of worship is so good as a patient waiting on the Lord in silence. Colonel Henry died at the ad- vanced age of seventy years. The family tradi- tions preserve the family patronymic through its descent on the mother's side, and trace it unmis- takably to the fountain-head, which was that of Cotton Mather, of Massachusetts.

Our subject entered Lehigh University in 1884, taking a course of study in civil engineering, and remaining for two years. While he was thus en- deavoring to obtain an education, his father's health failed, and he was compelled to leave school and battle with the world. In 1886 he entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Com- pany at the bottom round of the ladder, in the civil engineering department. Pleasing his em- ployers, he was promoted to the position of transit- man on the Lehigh Valley Railroad at South Betli- lehem.

Mr. Wilbur was married at Staten Island, N. Y., in October of the year 1893, to Miss Caroline Er-

win, the daughter of Ambrose J. Erwin, formerly Burgess of Bethlehem, and a member of the As- sembly of this state. He was extensively engaged in the dry-goods business at Bethlehem, the city of his birth, as it was that of his daughter, Mrs. Wilbur. Mr. Wilbur is a member of the First Presbyterian Church at South Bethlehem.

LINTON H. FULLER. This enterprising young business man of Catasauqua is pro- prietor of the Globe Metal Works, and the sole manufacturer of Globe bronze and the Viola and Crane Anti-Friction Metal. He was born in this city, July 24, 1858, and is the son of J. W. Fuller, of whom an extended notice is given in the sketch of his son, James W. Fuller, Jr., on another page in this volume.

The original of this sketch is the youngest of the five children living comprised in the parental family, and completed his education in Muh- lenberg College. In 1883 lie established yards at Fullerton, erected three large buildings, and en- gaged in the scrap-iron business, buying up second- hand boilers, engines, etc. He later took in as partner his brother, Orange M., the connection ex- isting for two years, when our subject assumed control of the entire business.

In 1889, when disposing of his plant at Fuller- ton, our subject, together with his brother Abbott, established in the business in which he is engaged at the present time. A year later, however, he purchased the interest of the brother and has since carried on affairs alone in a most admirable and successful manner. His plant is located on Race Street, between Canal and River, and is fitted out with five furnaces, operated by electric motors. Mr. Fuller is also a manufacturer of electric rail- road supplies. He gives employment to about twelvemen, and besides making a specialty of Globe bronze, is prepared to turn out heavy castings for railway, rolling-mill and machine works.

Although a very busy man, yet Mr. Fuller has found time to hold offices, and for one term was a

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member of the Borough Council. He is a straight- forward Republican in politics and is numbered among the valued and substantial citizens of the community in which he makes his home.

ENJAMIN F. McATEE, a prominent at- torney of South Bethlehem, has been very successful and has established a large prac- tice in this place. He is a hard-working attorney and is carefully read in the principles of law. His birth occurred December 28, 1843, in Wash- ington County, Md. His father, Thomas W. Mc- Atee, was born in the same county, and the early history of the family relates that in the first settlement of Maryland were two families of the name, one of the Roman Catholic faith, and the other Protestants, and of the latter our subject is a descendant. Thomas W. was born in 1812 and died in 1889, in Ogle County, Ill., where he resided for the twenty-five years immediately preceding his death. He lived retired from active business and was a prominent inan of that locality. His wife, Mary, was the daughter of Jolin Brinham, who was a native of Beaver Creek, Washington County, coming from an old Maryland family.

B. F. McAtee was educated at the Clear Spring Academy, and when eighteen years of age com- menced to teach school. Afterward he entered the service, becoming a member of Company K, First Maryland Potomac Home Brigade, Maryland Vol- unteers, and was mustered into the army at Fred- erick City, Md., shortly after becoming Second Lieu- tenant. His regiment was active throughout the various Shenandoah Valley campaigns, and was or- ganized under an act of Congress for the protec- tion of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, in order to keep open free communication and transportation of Government stores. Our subject resigned from the service, and was mustered out in December, 1864, when he went to Washington Court House, Ohio, in order to study law, being admitted to the Fay- ette County Bar May 15, 1871.

In 1872 Mr. McAtee married Aelia Young Shelly, whose father, Joel Shelly, was then a prom-

inent practicing physician of Berks County, Pa. The Shelly family are descendants of one of the early pioneers of that name, for it is known that in May, 1725, Jacob Shelly was a land-owner in Milford, Bucks County, this state, and in 1749 one Abraham Shelly was the petitioner for a road. Joel Y. Shelly was a public-spirited citizen and at the head of every movement for the advancement of his neighborhood. He had eleven children, five of whom are now deceased.

In the spring of 1892 Mr. McAtee located in South Bethlehem, where he engaged in practice and has succeeded in becoming favorably known in the professional circles of the state. Devoting much of his attention and leisure time to further study, Mr. McAtee brings to bear upon every case his knowledge of the decisions and rulings of noted judges, believing that no matter what natural abil- ity a man possesses, he cannot be too well versed in a general knowledge pertaining to the profes- sion. He still retains many of his old clients and still visits the courts of Luzerne County. In poli- tics he supports the Democratic party, and is a man who is greatly interested in the welfare of his fel- low-men.

R EV. J. LINCOLN LITCH, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Bethlehem, has a fine reputation as a pulpit orator, and is a successful worker in the Master's vine- yard. He has only been located in this city since January 1, 1892, but has succeeded in building up an enviable reputation, and under his preaching the congregation is rapidly enlarging. The birth of our subject occurred August 15, 1846, in Phila- delphia, Pa. He is of Scotch descent; his grand- father, Thomas Litch, however, was born in Mass- achusetts, where he followed farming.

The father of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch was Rev. Josiah Litch, whose birthi oc- curred in Lunenburg, Mass. In his carlier years he was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, but later became identified with the Evan- gelical Advent denomination. During his min-

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isterial career he was located in different places in Pennsylvania and New England, among others in Philadelphia and Boston. At one time he was editor of the denominational paper, Messiah's Herald, published in Boston, Mass. His death occurred in Providence, R. I., January 31, 1885, when he had attaincd the age of seventy-seven years. He was a literary man and an orator of no low degree. His wife, Sarah, was the daughter of Rev. William Barstow, and was born in Wick- ford, R. I. Her father was a native of Seekonk, of the same state, and was a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church, most of his min- istry being in connection with the Massachusetts Conference. Mrs. Sarah B. Litch, who is eighty- two years of age, residcs at the home of our subject, and of her family of six children only two are still living, Rev. J. L. and Prof. Wilbur F. Litch, our subject's brother, who is a Doctor of Dental Surgery and Professor in the Pennsylvania Dental College in Philadelphia.

Rev. J. L. Litch passed his youth in Philadel- phia until luis eighteenth year, attending the pub- lic and high schools, and then, with his parents, re- moved to Boston, Mass., where he completed his education. His ordination took place in Provi- dence, R. I., in 1867, and, like his father, he was a minister in the Evangelical Advent Church, hav- ing charge of a congregation at Westboro, Mass., for threc years. At the end of that time, chang- ing his denominational relation, he was located for a like period as pastor of the Congregational Church at Richmond, Vt., thence going to McIn- doe's Falls, Vt., there being stationed for five years. His next charge was in Rock Island, R. I., though he resided in Derby, Vt., just across the line. Afterward for five years he preached in the Con- gregational Church of Marion, Mass. Receiving a call to the Central Presbyterian Church at Nor- ristown, he accepted the same, and located there in 1886, where for nearly six years he conducted a successful work among that people. At the ex- piration of that time he became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Bethlehem. This church was organized about 1875, the church building having been erected in 1877. Since the present pastor's arrival a beautiful manse lias been erected

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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 58

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