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 64

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 64
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 64
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 64

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Besides the interests already mentioned, Mr. Sepp has been connected with various other busi- ness concerns. He is a member of the firm of Rich- ard H. Krall & Co., of Allentown, Mr. Krall being the husband of his only daughter, Margaret F. Mr. Sepp is also Secretary of and a stockholder in the Central Market Company of Allentown. He is connected with the Lehigh Liberty Fire Com- pany, which was organized in 1869, and became its first President. He is a member of the Liberty Beneficial Association, and of the Lehigh Sanger- bundt. Socially he belongs to Lehigh Lodge No. 83, I. O. O. F., is also a member of Livingston Castle, Knights of the Golden Eagle, and St. Mary Commandery, being Captain on the brigade staff

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of the latter. He is Chairman of the Hanover Toboggan Company, Limited, and the Laury To- boggan Company, Limited. A prominent citizen, widely and favorably known, he has the confidence and warm regard of all with whom business or so- eial relations have brought him in contact.

R ICHARD CAFFREY, a well known resi- dent of South Bethlehem, is one of the oldest men in the service of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and has made a success of his chosen oceupation, that of railroading, in which he has been engaged in one capacity or another for about forty years. The position he now holds is that of General Roadmaster of the whole system of the Lehigh Valley Railroad.

A native of the Emerald Isle, Mr. Caffrey was born in County Meath in 1837, being a son of John and Mary (Gibney) Caffrey, likewise natives of Ireland. The father, who was a farmer by oc- cupation, brought his family to America in 1846, and settling in Easton took a position at the iron works of Cooper & Hewitt at Philipsburg. Dur- ing his later years he was in the employ of the New Jersey Central and Lehigh Valley Railroads as section foreman. He departed this life in Phil- ipsburg at the ripe age of seventy-two years. His wife, who is now over eighty-two years of age, is still living, her home being in Philipsburg. Of their three children, who are all living, our sub- jeet is the only son.

The early years of Richard Caffrey were passed in his native land, and when nine years of age he eame to the New World, attending the schools at Philipsburg and Easton. In 1853 he entered the employ of the New Jersey Central Railroad, and two years later became traek foreman in the eon- struction of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. On the completion of the same he was seetion foreman on the Lehigh Division for nine years. For the suc- ceeding ten years he was Roadmaster of the Penn Haven & White Haven Division, after which he oceupied a similar post on the Wyoming & Lehigh

Division for fifteen years. For the next five years Mr. Caffrey was Roadmaster of the same di- visions, and also of the New Jersey Division, when the title of Roadmaster was changed to Supervisor, during the lease to the Reading Company. Mr. Caffrey is a member of the Roadmasters' Associa- tion of America, and has attended several of their meetings. In 1889, when they met in Denver, he was a member of the Executive Committee, and has taken a very active part in the work of the or- ganization, being a member of several committees.

From 1864 to 1891 Mr. Caffrey made his home at White Haven, and for several terms during that period was City Councilman, and also served as Auditor. His present home is at No. 232 Packer Avenue, South Bethlehem. He was married at Eckley to Eliza McAsy, who is also a native of Ireland, and to them have been born eight ehil- dren, namely: Mary, Annie, Jolin, Julia, Lauretta, Lucy, Nellie and Josephine. Mary is the wife of T. F. Lawless, of Kingston, Pa., and John, the eldest son, is a druggist in Philadelphia. In poli- tics Mr. Caffrey deposits his vote in favor of the Democratic party, and he and his family are mem- bers of the Church of the Holy Infancy.

ESSE LA BAR, of Slatington, is a dealer in fancy and staple groceries, conducts a gen- eral insurance business, and is also a dealer in all kinds of slate. In many of the city enterprises and business industries he has taken active part, showing that he has her welfare at heart. The birth of Mr. La Bar occurred in North- ampton County November 29, 1835; he is the son of George R. La Bar, who is now a resident of Northampton County, Pa., having attained the good old age of ninety years. During his active life he followed agricultural pursuits in Monroe County, near the city of Stroudsburg. His father, who bore the Christian name of Henry, was also a native of this county, and passed from the scenes of labor in 1862, having also reached advanced years, being at the time of his death in his ninety-

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fifth year. The La Bar family have for many gell- erations been prominent in the history and devel- opment of this region, having emigrated to the Keystone State from France, of which country they were originally natives. The mother of our subject, also a native of this county, bore the maiden name of Mary Long, her father being Major Long.

While Jesse La Bar was but an infant, his par- ents removed to Monroe County, where they set- tled on a farm near Stroudsburg. The educational privileges of our subject were very meager, but he made the best of his opportunities, and is largely self educated. In 1848 the family removed to Lehigh County, settling at Slatedale. Here the father engaged in the slate business, being one of the pioneer slate operators of Lehigh County, and continuing in that line of enterprise until 1861. When a lad of only thirteen years, Jesse La Bar be- gan working in his father's slate quarry, where he obtained a practical knowledge of slate mining in its many details. Later he became superintendent of large slate interests, conducting the manufacture of various kinds of slate until 1880, since which time he has been engaged in dealing in the com- modity, buying and selling in large and small quantities. Being of an inventive turn of mind, he patented a school slate in 1865, the sales of which have been extensive, particularly in the large cities of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Jersey City, Brooklyn, Newark, New York and other cities. This slate is still used largely in many states, and has brought to the owner a considera- ble income. He it was who introduced the slate blackboards in Ohio, as he sold the first used in that state in 1874. For many years lie traveled almost continuously through the central and east- crn states.

Responding to his country's call for assistance, Mr. La Bar in August, 1861, donned the blue and enlisted in the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Infan- try, commanded by Colonel Geary. As he was a member of the regiment band, at the end of a year's service he was honorably discharged by the act which dispensed with all regimental bands. During his service he participated in a number of engagements, and was always found faithful to the

trust reposed in him. On his return from the army he at once resumed business, and in 1869 started in the insurance line, in which, with his other enter- prises, he has been successful. In 1890 he estab- lished his present grocery business, and carries a large and complete stock.

In January, 1856, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. La Bar and Miss Permila Showeriskey, whose birth took place in Reading, Pa. Three daughters and two sons were born of this union. Laura is the wife of Dr. D. W. Stroup, of Shenandoah, Pa .; Emma became the wife of Joseph Pfaff, of Slating- ton, and Howard is assistant to the engineer of the Belvidere Delaware Division of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad. The eldest daughter, Lillian, and the youngest son, Robert, died in infancy. The parents are devoted members of the Presbyterian Church, and have the friendship and esteem of all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance. Our subject is a member of Lodge No. 216, O. U. A. M., having been one of the charter members of the same. He also belongs to Slatington Lodge No. 440, F. & A. M., and politically is a Repub- lican. For a number of years he served on the City Council, and has also been a member of the School Board, taking an interested part in works of public improvement.

DWARD LEISENRING, the subject of this sketch, is a man of much influence in his community, being highly respected, and possessed of sound judgment in public affairs, as well as in matters relating to the farm. Hc is at present residing near Whitehall, and was born in this county, April 11, 1824.

Conrad and Lidia (Rhoades) Leisenring, the par- ents of our subject, were also natives of this coun- ty. The paternal great-grandfather, John Conrad Leisenring, was the first of the family to emigrate from Saxony to America. On arriving he located on the farm which is now owned and occupied by

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our subject, and was classed among the well-to-do pioneers of the Lehigh Valley. The grandfather, Conrad Leisenring, served in the Revolutionary War as a teamster.

Our subject was reared to man's estate in liis native county, and received his cducation in both the subscription and free schools. He has fol- lowed agricultural pursuits his entire life. When ready to establish a home of his own, he was mar- ried, in 1875, to Miss Mary Gross, a native of Northampton County, this state. Their union has been blessed by the birth of one son, Charles C. In his political relations our subject is a strong Republican. He is a man of unassuming manner, honest in all his dealings with his fellow-men, and an industrious, hard-working farmer. In religious affairs he is a devoted member of the German Lutheran Church.

The parental family of our subject included eleven children, of whom the following-named still survive: Reuben; Edward; Salinda, now Mrs. George Daniel; Appolonia, Mrs. Henry Laury; and Amelia, now Mrs. Reuben Steckel. The eldest brother was born July 7, 1824, and, like the other members of the family, has spent his entire life in his native statc. When twenty years of age he went to Mauch Chunk, this state, where he engaged as a clerk in the mercantile establishment of his uncle, John Leisenring, with whom he remained for a time. In the fall of 1854 he went to Luzerne County, and engaged as head clerk and paymaster in the coal mines of Sharpe, Leisenring & Co., who were the founders of Eckley, and gave employ- ment in their mines to about four hundred men. Reuben Leisenring remained with them for about eighteen years, but in 1878 he removed to Harleigh, the same county, where he is at present living, and engaged as head clerk and paymaster in the coal mines of W. S. Kemmerer & Co. This brother of our subject is very prominent in that place, and has been Postmaster of Harleigh for a number of years. He has been identified with the Republican party since its organization, and religiously is a member of the Lutheran Church. He has been an eye-witness of the marvellous development of this county, especially in the coalfields, and remem- bers the time when the site of Eckley was a vast

wilderness. Hc has taken a deep interest in mat- ters of improvement in his township, and has carned all his possessions by his own exertions, having always been energetic and industrious.

AMES L. MARSTELLER, attorney-at-law at Allentown. A lifetime spent in pursuing one calling will almost certainly result in substantial success, especially if energy and perseverance are applied, and this maxim is excm- plified in the case of Mr. Marsteller, who has given the study of law his chief time and attention.

Samuel A. Marsteller, the father of our subject, was a native of Lehigh County, this state, and during his active career was a prominent iron merchant in Allentown. He departed this life in 1879, at the age of fifty-seven. His father, the grandfather of our subject, also bore the name of Samuel, and was a native of Northampton County. The Marsteller family came originally from Ger- many, the first representatives having come to this country as early as 1740, and with the Palatines made a settlement in the Keystone State.

Our subject's mother, wlio was known in maid- enhood as Miss Leah Lazarus, was also a native of this county and is residing at the present time in Allentown. She has attained the age of sixty- three years. Her father, Jacob Lazarus, was a prominent farmer in this locality, and lived to reach his eighty-sixth year.

James L. Marsteller was born September 27, 1849, in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh Coun- ty, where he spent his boyhood days and received a good education in the public schools. Later he attended the Allentown Academy for two years, after which he became a student in Muhlenberg College, where he prosecuted his studies vigor- ously for some time. In 1870 he taught school in Crawford County, Ohio, and after returning home at the end of the year was similarly engaged for one term in Lehigh County.

In 1872 our subject accepted a position with the Central Railroad of New Jersey as shop clerk, be-

P. E. STEM, M. D.

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ing situated first at Mauch Chunk and later at Wilkes Barre. While thus employed he devoted every spare moment to the reading of law, and on the 1st of September, 1877, entered the office of Hon. Edwin Albright as a student at law. Sep- tember 1, 1879, he was admitted to the Bar in Allentown, which city has since been the scene of his operations. Mr. Marsteller, who is enterpris- ing and ambitious, has become a power in his profession and takes a high place among the law- yers of this county. He is deeply interested in all matters pertaining to local and national welfare and at all times votes the Republican ticket.

In February, 1887, Mr. Marsteller was elected to represent the Second Ward in the City Council for a term of two years. He has been a delegate to the various conventions of his party, and in social matters is a member of Lochawonk Tribe No. 201, I. O. R. M. He is recognized as a man of extended influence, and one who enjoys the esteem of hosts of friends. He resides at No. 407 North Seventh Street, Allentown.

PP RESTON E. STEM, M. D., who stands high in his profession in South Bethlehem, has been engaged in practice here since Jan- uary, 1890. The Doctor was born in Coplay, Pa., July 2, 1856, being a son of George H. Stem, of Stemton, Northampton County. His grandfather, Samuel, was a farmer in Cherryville until he re- tired from active work, when he removed to Stem- ton, and there in later years died. The family is of Scotch descent, and its members have been strong adherents of the Reformed Church.

George H. Stem was a carpenter by trade, and was thus engaged while a resident of Coplay. In 1867 he located on the site of Stenton, and started the car shops known as the Stem Car Manufactory. Afterwards he formed, with two other partners, the firm of George H. Stem & Co. Later, with H. HI. Fisher, C. W. Cooper and B. E. Lehman, he formed the Lehigh Car Manufacturing Company, in which he was Superintendent, and succeeded in

building up an extensive business. In 1886 C. W. Cooper, the Treasurer, and H. H. Fisher, the Pres- ident, of the firm died, and with other reverses the firm failed. It was then merged into the Lehigh Valley Car Manufacturing Company, and of this concern Mr. Stem was also Superintendent until he retired from active business. His home is still in Stemton, which he laid out and started, it being named in his honor. In politics he has always been a stanch Democrat, and religiously is connected with the Reformed Church. His wife, C. Eliza- beth Moyer, was born in East Allen Township, and became the mother of five children.

Dr. Stem was born in Coplay, and there lived until he was twelve years old. He then accom- panied his parents to Stemton, and attended the public schools of that place until 1869, when he entered the preparatory department of Muhlen- berg College. In 1873 he left that institution and entered the Sophomore class at Franklin and Marsh- all College, at Lancaster, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1876 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In the fall of 1876 he commenced to read medicine with Dr. V. G. Huebner, of Coplay, and shortly afterward entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1880 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. His former preceptor having died, he was sent for to take his place, and he continued there until 1886, when, on account of ill health, he relinquished his practice. In 1887 he engaged in the drug business in Allentown, buying out the firm of Hartzell Bros., and forming the firm of Heiberger & Stem.

In the spring of 1889 Dr. Stem sold out his in- terest in the drug business in Allentown, and in January, 1890, he came back to his first love-the practice of medicine-and located his office at No. 420 Broad Street, South Bethlehem, where he has succeeded in building up an extensive and lucrative practice. He is a stockholder in the South Beth- lehem Building and Loan Association, and is con- fident that the town has a great future in store. While at Coplay he was Burgess for some years, and also Treasurer and a member of the Council. In politics he supports the Democratic party. Fra- ternally he is a Mason, being Past Master of Porter

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Lodge No. 284, F. & A. M., of Catasauqua; and belongs to the Royal Arch Masons of Allentown, and Allen Commandery of that place. Moreover, he is a Knight of Pythias, and belongs to the or- der of the Golden Eagle.

In 1881 the Doctor was married in Bethlehem to Miss Otillia I., daughter of Dr. L. H. Lawall, who was born in this town. He is a member of the Reformed Church of South Bethlehem, the Doctor's wife belonging to the Moravian Church of Bethle- hem. They are estimable people, and have the love and respect of all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance.

J WILLIAM LATTIG is one of the most practical electricians of the Lehigh Valley, and is now Superintendent of the telegraph and electrical apparatus belonging to the Lehigh Valley Railroad. This is a very important position, as he has charge of work on the Lehigh Valley and branch railroads, the superintendence of about four hundred and fifty telegraph opera- tors, linemen and other employes in the electrical department, and has charge of the plans and in- creasing business in his department, which includes all automatic electric train signals, telephones, elec- tric lights, etc.

A native of Easton, Mr. Lattig was born May 14, 1854, and in that city his grandfather, Jacob Lattig, was also born. The latter was a carpenter and builder during his active life, later becoming a farmer on land adjoining the city, in Williams Township. In old age he retired, making his home in Easton until his death. He was of German de- scent, his father having been a native of the Fath- erland. Aaron P., the father of J. W., was also born in Easton, and by trade was a carpenter. He afterward became an employe of the Lehigh Valley Railroad in construction work. For some years thereafter he was train dispatcher for the same com- pany at Delano, until 1873, when he turned his attention to the coal business in Easton for a time, and in 1875 was engaged in business in Freeport,

Ill. Subsequently he was employed in running a farm, and then engaged in city teaming. Dur- ing the Civil War he was a member of Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-first Pennsylvania Regi- ment, enlisting for three years, and during the lat- ter part of the time was detailed in the Quarter- master's department, as Wagonmaster. After the war he became interested in the Grand Army of the Republic; in religion he is a member of the Reformed Church. Our subject's mother, Harriet (Randolph) Lattig, was born in Easton and was of the old Randolph stock of Brooklyn, N. Y. Her father, William Randolph, was a shoemaker by trade, and was retired from business for some years. his death occurring at Easton.

J. W. Lattig, of this sketch, is the eldest of eleven children, all but one of whom grew to maturity, but he is the only one left in the Lehigh Valley. Reared in Easton until 1864, he then went to De- lano, attending the common schools until twelve years of age. Then entering the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad he worked as a water-boy on a gravel train and at oiling cars, after which he became messenger in the telegraph office, and there picked up operating by the old-fashioned paper system and was made operator at that point. About eight months later he took up the present style, and in time became one of the most expert opera- tors in the valley. He served one year at the ma- chinist trade, quitting that at the solicitation of friends to re-engage in the telegraph field.

In 1873 Mr. Lattig was made dispatcher, taking his father's place, in which he continued for six months, resigning to accept the post of assistant agent and day operator at Tunkhannock, Wyom- ing County. From there he was transferred to the dispatcher's office at Towanda, Pa., and in 1874 was again transferred to the General Superintend- ent's office, at Bethlehem, as night operator. At the end of a year he resigned, but was offered and ac- cepted the post of chief operator at Mauch Chunk, and soon after, in 1877, was made division opera- tor. In 1879 the position of Superintendent of Telegraphy, with headquarters at Mauch Chunk, was tendered him, and this he accepted. It was in 1887 that he removed his office to Bethlehem, Pa., becoming with his family a resident of his native

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place, Easton. In 1890 he became General Super- intendent for the National Switch and Signal Com- pany, traveling all over the United States. That post he resigned in 1891, becoming General Super- intendent of the Electric Seeret Service Company of New York, for whom he also traveled in all parts of the United States.

In 1892 our subjeet returned to Easton as Elee- trical Engineer for the National Switch and Sig- nal Company, with which he had been formerly employed, and in September, 1893, he returned to the Lehigh Valley to take charge as Superintend- ent of the telegraph and electrical apparatus of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, the position he still oc- cupies. In the spring of 1894 he removed his family to West Bethlehem, building a good resi- dence at No. 335 Broad Street. He is a member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and active in the Association of Railway Telegraph Superintendents, before which he has read papers. He is the inventor of a number of railroad signal appliances, one of which, the Automatie Electrie Semaphore, promises to fill a wide field of useful- ness.

In 1875 Mr. Lattig was married, in Easton, to Miss Sallie, daughter of Traill Nungesser, a car- penter of that place. Mrs. Lattig is a native of Easton, where she was reared and educated, and to herself and husband have been born six children, four of whom are living: Fannie, Irella, Charles and Traill. The parents are members of Grace Lutheran Church of Bethlehem, and fraternally Mr. Lattig is a member of the Royal Arcanum. With his ballot he supports the principles and nominees of the Prohibition party.

J ACOB W. GRIM, a member of the firm of Grim Bros., is engaged in the manufacture of joining and building brick, having their yards located near the traeks of the Lehigh Valley Railroad in Allentown. They are doing a large business, turning out twenty-five thousand brick per day, and have furnished this material

for many of the finest buildings in the city, among them being the New Market, the Electric Station, the Blakesley Foundry Works, and numerous fine residenees. The plant is equipped with the latest and best machinery, and they burn their briek witli anthracite coal. Their pressed brick, . however, is dried by steam, the house having a ca- pacity of fifty thousand every twenty-four hours.

The subject of this sketeh was born in this city in 1858, and is the son of Peter K. Grim, also a native of this eounty, his birth having occurred January 20, 1829. The father is still living, and makes his home in Allentown. The paternal grand- father, David Grim, was born in Berks County, this state, and served as a Colonel in Washington's army during the Revolutionary War.

Our subject's mother, Mrs. Elizabeth (Mosser) Grim, was born in this county in 1827, and resides with her husband in Allentown. She was the daughter of Jacob Mosser, a tanner by oeeupation, who departed this life when in his seventy-ninth year. The father of our subject was also engaged as a tanner until 1881, when he retired from busi- ness. Jacob W., of this sketch, attended the pub- lic schools in this eity, after which he took a course in the business college. His first situation was as bookkeeper in a leather store, and in the spring of 1877 he was placed in charge of the books of the Allentown Tannery, owned by Mosser & Grim, the latter being the father of our subject. He con- tinued in that capacity until 1881, when the part- nership was dissolved.

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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 64

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