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 62
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 62
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 62
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Joseph S. Osterstock was born February 11, 1843, at Easton, and until he was eleven years old went to the publie schools. For the next two years he worked in a grocery, and subsequently began learn- ing the tinsmith's trade. He served an appren- ticeship of six years, the last year being passed under the direction of Mr. Chidsey. Before his term had expired he volunteered his services to the Union eause, enlisting August 1, 1862, for nine nonthis. He was placed in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Infan- try, Army of the Potomac, and participated in the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Carneys- ville, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He was discharged May 18, 1863, but re-enlisted June 22,
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1863, and was made First Sergeant of Company D, Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania Emergency Corps. He was soon mustered into the United States serv- ice, and in the battle of Gettysburg assisted in keeping General Early from crossing the Susque- hanna at Wrightsville. Afterward, with his com- pany, he held back a detachment of Steward's cavalry, and then returned to Harrisburg, where he was once more dismissed, as his term of serv- ice had expired. This was the last day of July, 1863.
March 31, 1865, our subject was mustered in as Second Lieutenant of Company H, Two Hundred and Fourteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, one of the regiments sent out by the Union League of Philadelphia. Proceeding to Winchester and the Shenandoah Valley, he did private duty for a short time, and then, on account of competitive inspection, his regiment was detached from the Eighteenth and placed on duty at Washington, D. C., having charge of all Quartermasters' stores. Mr. Osterstock was for a part of the time Adju- tant, being the youngest officer in the regiment, and as an acknowledgment of his ability and sol dierly qualities as an officer, he was detailed to guard all the property at General Grant's hcad- quarters, and all stores at Kendall Green, near Washington. At other times he assisted in guard- ing stores at various points, the Smithsonian In- stitute and the old Capital Prison at Washington, when it contained more than two hundred rebel prisoners and spies. In the latter was confined the celebrated Werz, and during his trial our subject was the officer of the guards of the prison and also was on duty when the man was executed.
On being mustercd out of the army, March 21, 1866, Mr. Osterstock resumed his trade of tin- smithing, and for two years worked as a journey- man. In May, 1868, he became Assistant Post- master to J. L. Mingle. He continued to serve in that position until 1875, when he bought out the old place where he had learned his trade and assumed charge of the business. He has been very successful in this undertaking, and has almost a monopoly in this trade. He is a member of Dallas Lodge No. 396, F. & A. M., and of LaFayette Post No. 217, G. A. R. He is also identified with the
Loyal Legion, and formerly was an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias and a Druid. For eighteen years he was one of the Volunteer Fire Depart- ment, belonging to Phonix Company No. 2, which was disbanded when the present system was organ- ized. He was a member of the Board of Trade, and has the confidence of the business men of thiscity.
In April, 1867, our subject married Miss Sarah, daughter of John Sheatz. One child, John F., is the result of their union. Joseph S. Osterstock has truly been the architect of his own fortune, for especially in his early life his advantages were very limited. He was left an orphan at the tender age of eleven years, and when the war came on ran away to enlist, but was arrested at the depot by the constable, and returned home. When he began working for Mr. Chidsey, there were twen- ty-six men in that gentleman's employ, and all but three of these entered the service. His brother, Willianı G., was one of the first to enlist for the defense of the Stars and Stripes. The date of this was April 7, 1861, the very day on which the "Star of the West" was fired upon. He then entered for three months' service as a member of Company B, First Pennsylvania Infantry, was afterward First Sergeant of Company B, Fifty-first Regiment, Army of the Potomac, and served throughout the war, being in the famous charge at Antietam Bridge. He received wounds in the breast at the mine explosion in front of Petersburg, and from the effects of his injury his death resulted later. Theodore, another brother, enlisted in Company G, Sixty-first Regiment, and served for three years. He was mustered in February 4, 1861, and received his discharge June 13, 1865, from the Philadelphia Hospital. He was a member of the Army of the Potomac, and after returning from the war took up his abode in New York City, where he died in July, 1876.
The following is of interest to those who are ac- quainted with our subject, and bears testimony to his devoted service in the cause of liberty:
"HEADQUARTERS QUARTERMASTER'S DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., March 19, 1866. 5 "J. S. Osterstock, Second Lieutenant Company H, No. 214th Regt. Pa. Vols:
"It is with sincere pleasure that I avail myself
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of this opportunity of bearing testimony to your good character, your untiring efforts, fidelity and soldierly bearing as an officer. Having known you for six months, during which time you were in charge of detachiments doing duty in the Chief Quartermaster's Department, a branch of which comes under my direction as Head Quartermaster, your conduct at this office in your official capacity has gained for yourself credit. I regret very much that your regiment is about to be relieved by the Twelfth U. S. Infantry.
"Hoping, however, that you may continue to give credit to yourself in whatever capacity you may be called upon in the future to fill, whether military or civil, I remain,
"Very truly your friend, "JAMES S. HUMBERT, Superintendent." "Countersigned,
"M. I. Ludington, Chief Quartermaster's De- partment, U. S. A."
(The latter is now Chief Quartermaster in the United States army, with headquarters in Cali- fornia).
AMUEL J. WEAVER, M. D., is a practic- ing physician and surgeon of Bethlehem. He bears a name of wide reputation in pro- fessional circles, where he is known as a man of unusual ability and genius. He is a surgeon for the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and is identified with the leading medical societies of the country. In the fraternities and in politics he is also very prominent, and in everything pertaining to the upbuilding of the city he has taken his share.
The family is of German descent, and has long been established in Northampton County. Our subject's grandfather, Michacl Weaver, was an ex- tensive merchant and farmer, and upon his land built a tannery, which he operated. He succceded in getting a postoffice at Wcaversville, which was named in honor of him, and of which he was the first Postmaster, having been appointed about the close of the last century. He was an old-line
Whig, a man of considerable prominence, and Cap- tain of a company in the War of 1812. His wife, who was a Miss Dreisbach, died in 1860, at the age of about eighty-eight years. He died of apo- plexy in 1834, when in his sixty-fourth year.
Our subject's father, Samuel Weaver, was born in Weaversville, and with his two brothers, David and Thomas, became a partner in the mercantile establishment founded by his father. They also conducted the farm and tannery, but after a time he bought out the interests of his brothers and be- came the owner of the homestead of one hundred acres, with the tannery, located on Catasauqua Creek. In 1835 he was appointed Postmaster, and held that position - until his death. He was very active in educational work, and did his utmost to increase the educational facilities of the commu- nity. He was one of the prime movers in establish- ing the Weaversville Academy, which was opened in 1856. The ground for the site was donated by him, and lic was Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the academy until his death.
In early days, while engaged in the mercantile business, Samuel Weaver bought his goods in Phil- adelphia and New York, and at first they were hauled by teams the entire distance, later were conveyed by canal, and finally by railroad. His establishment was the largest in the vicinity. For many years he was Treasurer of the Lutheran Church at Weaversville, and also served as Sun- day-school Superintendent. Politically he was an ardent Republican. The disease which ended his career was angina pectoris, he dying in 1863, at the age of fifty-four years.
The mother of our subject, Sarah, was a daugh- ter of Jacob Boyer, a substantial farmer of Allen Township. She was born in Howertown, and in 1870 located in Bethlehem, where she resided until her death, December 24, 1893, in her seventy- fourth year. She was the mother of twelve chil- dren, of whom eleven attained years of maturity. William T. is a traveling salesman, and during the Civil War was Sergeant of the One Hundred and Fifty-third Pennsylvania Infantry; Amelia M. lives in Bethlehem; Janc S. is the wife of Dr. J. F. Raub, and lives in Washington, D. C .; Joseph A. is an influential citizen of Bethlehem; Amanda E.
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is the wife of Rev. E. Martinis, of Hillsboro, Ill .; Clinton T. is a bookkeeper; Samuel J. is the sub- ject of this sketch; David M. is a clerk in the em- ploy of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company in Beth- lehiem; C. Annie, the wife of George Green, lives in Brooklyn, N. Y .; and Frances C. is married and lives in Boston, Mass.
Samuel J. Weaver was born September 2, 1850, in Weaversville, Pa., and was reared in his birthplace. He attended the academy there, and completed the course, after which, when seventeen years of age, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Raub. In 1870 he entered Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated in 1872 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, being the youngest in the class. In order to make progress lie took advan- tage of a special spring and fall course, and thus crowded his studies into less time. Going to his native village after leaving college, he engaged in practice, worked hard and succeeded in build- ing up a good reputation and patronage. In 1883 he came to Bethlehem, where he also very soon made good progress in building up a fine practice, and erected an office at the corner of Main and Union Streets. He is a charter member of the Le- high Valley Medical Association, and an active inember of the State, County and American Med- ical Associations. He is Medical Examiner for the New York Life, the Masonic Aid, Independent Order of Heptasophs, the Odd Fellows' Endowment Association and for many others. He is also iden- tified with the Bethlehem Microscopical Society, and at one time was President of the County Med- ical Association.
In Lower Saucon Dr. Weaver was married, De- cember 5, 1872, to Miss Mary J. Weaver, a native of that place, and they have one child, S. Herbert. They attend Christ's Reformed Church of this city, in which the Doctor is an Elder. Fraternally Dr. Weaver belongs to Cypress Commandery, K. of H., having been one of the charter members and the first Commander. He was the first Treasurer of the Grand Commandery of the state of Pennsyl- vania, serving as such for three terms, and for three years was a Trustce of the Supreme Grand Commandery. As an Odd Fellow, the Doctor is also interested in, and a warm supporter of, civic
societies. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and has served frequently as a delegate to county and state conventions. In the fall of 1887 he was elected County Coroner on the Republican ticket, and served from January, 1888, until January, 1891, being the only Republican that ever held the office in the history of the county.
ALVIN L. JOHNSTONBAUGH, M. D., who enjoys the distinction of being the old- est practicing physician in West Bethle- hem, makes a specialty of treating the eye and ear. Our subject is a native of this state, having been born near Oak Hall, Centre County, June 8, 1864, and is the son of George Johnstonbaugh, also a native of Pennsylvania, and a farmer by occupa- tion. He was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church, in the faith of which he died in 1890, when in the eighty-second year of his age. His wife, prior to her marriage Sarah Emerick, de- parted this life in 1884, at the age of sixty-three years.
The parental family of our subject included twelve children, of whom he was the youngest. Two of his brothers participated in the late war as soldiers in the Union army, and another of his brothers, G. W., is principal teacher of the Bethle- hem High School. C. L. remained on his father's farm until a lad of eleven years, when his parents removed to State College, and there he entered the preparatory department of the college. The three years following he attended the Centre Hall Normal, after which he took a two-years course in the Pennsylvania State College, making a specialty of the study of chemistry.
In 1884 Mr. Johnstonbaugh entered the Eclectic Medical Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio, from which institution he was graduated in 1887, with the de- gree of Doctor of Medicine. Returning to this state he located in Hublersburg, Centre County, where he practiced for thirteen months, and in April, 1889, took up his place of abode in West Bethlehem, having a well equipped office, situated
J. W. FLAD.
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at No. 134 Third Avenue. The Doctor, although engaged in general practice, is making a specialty of diseases of the eye and ear, and has the finest assortment of lenses ever manufactured.
Dr. Johnstonbaugh was married in February, 1889, in Centre County, to Miss Sue E., daughter of Rev. W. R. Ycarick, a minister of the Reformed Church. Their union has been blessed by the birth of a daughter, Nettie O. Our subject has served as a member of the Board of Health for one term, and in every way possible lends his aid toward the upbuilding of his community. He is the only Eclectic physician in the Lehigh Valley and enjoys a large and lucrative patronage. The Doctor is a Republican in politics, and in religious affairs be- longs to Christ Reformed Church, in which he is a Deacon.
E)
H ON. J. WILLIAM FLAD, ex-member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, is at the present time General Agent for the Mas- sachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, for the northeastern portion of the state, and makes his headquarters in Easton, of which city he is a na- tive. He was born February 3, 1859, and is the son of Joseph Flad, a native of Wurtemberg, Ger- many. The latter was a finely educated gentle- man, being a graduate of Heidelberg University, in which institution he was afterward Profes- sor of Music. He served in the Revolution of '48, and on account of difficulties which then arose, he came to America and made his home in Easton, where he taught music for many years. He after- ward engaged in the retail cigar and tobacco busi- ness, which he followed until his decease, in Feb- ruary, 1884, when forty-nine years of age. He was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church.
Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Harriet Hensler, was born in this city, of German parentage. To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Flad were born two sons, of wliom our subject is the elder. Franc Z. is boiler inspector for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company and is located in South Easton.
J. William was graduated from the Easton High School in 1875, after which he attended Lafayette
College for two years, taking the classical course. At the expiration of that time he left school and entered his father's cigar store, which was located on Northampton Street, near Sixth. In the year 1881 he was married, in this city, to Miss M. E. Dietrich, after which he located on College Hill and for two or three years succeeding was engaged in the dairy business, owning a farm near the city, which was stocked with a good grade of milchi COWS.
In 1886 Mr. Flad was nominated on the Demo- cratic ticket to the Legislature, but with the entire ticket was in some mysterious manner defeated. He was then made Chairman of the Democratic Committee during the campaign of 1888, and on being renominated was elected to the Legislature, together with every candidate for office who ran in 1886. In that year he embarked in the insur- ance business, representing sixteen counties in this state for the Massachusetts Mutual, which is a fine territory. On the expiration of his official term, he was re-elected, thus serving his con- stituents a period of four years, during which time he rendered them valuable service as a mem- ber of various important committees, being a mem- ber of the Committee of Appropriations, Railroads, Insurance, etc. By investigating bank failures, suf- ficient evidence was brought to light to cause the Bank Department of the state to be established. In 1889 he presented a bill, which was passed, giv- ing to Northampton County two judges learned in the law, and in 1891 he had charge of the bill which when passed resulted in the building of the new insane asylum in Wernersville, Pa. He also secured the first appropriation for the Easton and St. Luke's Hospital, besides other measures which proved of great value to the community.
Mr. Flad still has in his possession his fine dairy farm, and owns valuable real estate in College Hill. His office in this city is in the Trust Build- ing. IIc is very public spirited, and was one of the first men in the city to propose the building of a street railway, which project lie aided in car- rying to a successful issue.
To Mr. and Mrs. Flad have been born two sons, Edward and Earl. In social affairs Mr. Flad be- longs to Dallas Lodge, F. & A. M., is also a Royal
22
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Arch Mason and a member of High DePayne Com- mandery, K. T. He stands high in the order of Odd Fellows in this city, in which he takes great interest. Like many of the prominent business men of Easton, he is a member of the Freemont Club. The Lutheran Church finds in him one of its most valued members, and in financial matters he aids that denomination very materially. As will be seen by perusing this sketch, he is one of the most substantial and enterprising business men in this portion of the state, and as such we are pleased to be able to represent him in this volume.
T HOMAS MONROE KURTZ, who is more familiarly known as Monroe Kurtz, is the largest stock-dealer in Lehigh County. He devotes himself untiringly to his work, and, being a shrewd business man, is meeting with great suc- cess. He is a representative of a family whose name has been inseparably connected with the growth and upbuilding of this county, and as he has ever borne his part in the work of public advance- ment and improvement, this volume would be in- complete without the record of his life.
Mr. Kurtz is a native of this county, and was born February 26, 1847, in Hanover Township, near Catasauqua, where he makes his home at the present time. He is the son of Henry Kurtz, whose history appears in the biography of Milton Kurtz, elsewhere in this record. Thomas M. grew to manhood on the home farm, alternating agricult- ural work with attendance at the public schools in Catasauqua. He remained at home until his marriage, in 1873, at which time Miss Elizabeth ,
daughter of Joseph Davolt, became his wife. Im- mediately after their union Mr. Kurtz rented the home farm, which included a quarter-section, and was engaged in its operation until 1890. During fifteen years of that time he had a large dairy route in the city and kept on his cstate from eighteen to twenty mileh cows. It was also while living on this farm that our subject began dealing in stock, and, forming a partnership with his cousin,
Robert Kurtz, he bought and shipped cattle for three years.
In 1891 our subject closed out his dairy busi- ness, and, removing to this city, continucd to deal in stock. He crected a fine brick residence on the corner of Kurtz and American Streets, which land had formerly been a portion of his, father's estate and upon which Mr. Kurtz had often ploughed and cut hay.
Mr. Kurtz makes trips to Buffalo, N. Y., and East Liberty, this state, where he buys cattle and hogs, which he ships to this city, disposing of the same to the butchers here and in Allentown and Coplay. He is the only drover residing in this locality, and handles about fifty carloads of cattle each year. Being very successful in this branch of business he has accumulated an abundance of this world's goods, and has the satisfaction of knowing that he has performed no unimportant part in the growth and development of this part of the county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz has been born one daughter, Flora Estella. They have also an adopted daughter, Elizabeth Lichtenwalner, whom they took into their home when eighteen months old, and who is now a young lady of eighteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz are leading members of the German Reformed Church and are earnest workers in its interest. Our subject exercises his right of franchise in the support of the Republican party, and all educational and moral enterprises find in him a true friend.
HARLES H. WEBB is one of the most popular officials of the Lehigh Valley Rail- road, and is General Car Accountant. He has been connected with the company since Octo- ber 8, 1864, and is considered one of their most faithful and capable employes. In manner Mr. Webb is very pleasant and courteous, and has many friends, both in South Bethlehem, where his office is located, and up and down the Lehigh Valley.
The birth of Charles H. Webb occurred in Mont- rose, Susquehanna County, Pa., April 1, 1840
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his parents being Henry James and Mary (Wake- lee) Webb. The former was born in Saybrook, Conn., and was related to General Webb of Revo- lutionary fame. Henry Webb became a resident of Pennsylvania when quite young, and engaged in merchandising at Montrose. Active in the ranks of the Democratie party, he was Postmaster for many years at Montrose, and one term served as Sheriff of Susquehanna County. He departed this life in 1880, aged about seventy years. His wife, who was a daughter of A. Wakelee, was born in Waterbury, Conn., being the daughter of a farmer, who removed to Springville, Susquehanna County, Pa., where she grew to womanhood. Mrs. Webb, who is now in her seventy-ninth year, and still active in the Episcopal Church, is a resident of Montrose.
The subject of this narrative is the only child of his parents who grew to mature years. His boy- hood was passed at Montrose, and it was his priv- ilege to attend the fine schools under Professor Stoddard, the noted mathematician. Afterward, for a short time, lie was a student at the Delaware Literary Institute, at Franklin, N. Y. From that time until the war he assisted his father in running a store and postoffice, and then volunteered as one of the Anderson Troop, serving as Bugler, and be- ing a member of General Anderson's bodyguard. After a year and a-half of service, on aeeount of poor health he was honorably discharged. On the emergency eall he volunteered in the Twenty- eighth Pennsylvania Militia, under Colonel Cham- berlain, and at the end of three months was mus- tered out by special order.
October 8, 1864, Mr. Webb received a position as clerk at Mauch Chunk with the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and in time became Auditor of Through Freights. When the Philadelphia & Reading leased the Lehigh Valley Road, he was appointed Assist- ant Auditor of Merchandise Traffie, with head- quarters at Philadelphia for two months, after which he returned to the Lehigh Valley as General Auditor, and when the lease was annulled he be- came General Car Accountant. In his offiees is employed a large clerical force, and in the duties of his responsible place he acquits himself to the satisfaction of all. Formerly he was a member of
the Association of Railway Accounting Officers, being on a standing committee in 1890, and has always been on intimate terms with the officials of the railroad.
In December, 1868, Mr. Webb was married, in Mauel Chunk, to Miss Ellen Brodhead, a native of that place, and the daughter of Hon. A. G. Brod- head, ex-Judge of Carbon County, and formerly a member of the State Senate. He was prominent in political eireles, and was Superintendent of Beaver Meadow Division of the Lehigh Valley Railroad for over forty years. Mrs. Webb was
edueated in Dr. Smith's school in Philadelphia. Our subjeet and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Maueh Chunk, of which the former for a quarter of a century had charge of the choir and music. In politics he votes in favor of the Democratic party.
EORGE W. LAUB, Postmaster at Belfast, Northampton. County, is the leading busi- ness man of the village. In his large establishment he carries a general line of merehan- dise, including groceries, dry goods, notions, hard- ware, flour and feed, boots and shoes, ready-made clothing, and the usual stock carried in a first-class village store. The building, which was erected in 1879, has a frontage of thirty feet and is seventy- six feet in length, having about fifty-two feet in the front part. In height it is two and one-half stories. Success has attended Mr. Laub's efforts since opening this store in 1887, and his annual sales now average from $25,000 to $35,000.
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