PART ONE
Solomon W. Roberts,
nephew of Josiah White, went to Cardiff, Wales, in 1836, as an inspector of rails
that were ordered by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company. In May
1837, he visited the Yniscedwyn Iron Works near Swansea, Bracknockshire, South
Wales. There he met George Crane, proprietor of the Yniscedwyn Works, and David
Thomas, his superintendent. On February 7, 1837, they had successfully produced
good quality iron at the rate of 34 to 36 tons per week using anthracite coal
alone as fuel. Solomon W. Roberts returned home in November 1837, and he
brought details of Crane's plans and specifications illustrative of the process
to his uncle, Josiah White. Upon hearing the news, Josiah White along with
Erskine Hazard renewed their interest in producing iron with anthracite coal.
As early as 1825, they had been experimenting with the practicability of
smelting iron with this coal.
On October 2, 1838, in
anticipation of the organization of the Lehigh Crane Iron Company, and to
promote the development of other coal consuming enterprises along the Lehigh
River, the directors of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company offered the
valuable water privileges of the river from Swartz's (Hokendauqua) Dam to the
Allentown Dam to any persons who would expend $30,000 in the erection of a
furnace and run it successfully for three months by the exclusive use of
anthracite coal. The Lehigh Crane Iron Company, consisting of members of the
Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, was then informally organized and in
November, 1838, Erskine Hazard along with his eldest son, Alexander, traveled
to Wales to engage some competent person to come to this country in their
interest, and to superintend the erection of furnaces.
Upon his arrival,
Erskine Hazard contacted George Crane to discuss royalties on his patents and
to ask his advice about engaging someone who could duplicate Crane's
achievement in Pennsylvania. For this purpose, George Crane suggested his
superintendent, David Thomas. At first, Thomas was reluctant to leave his
native land, but, influenced by a liberal offer, besides the consideration that
his sons would have better opportunities in America than they could hope for in
Wales or Great Britain, he consented, and on the night of December 31, 1838, he
entered into an agreement with Mr. Hazard.
The text of the
agreement, together with a supplement made in Philadelphia, are as follows:
"Memorandum
of Agreement made the thirtyfirst day of December 1838 between Erskine Hazard
for the Lehigh Crane Iron Company of the one part and David Thomas of Castle
Dhu of the other part.
"1.
The said Thomas agrees to remove with his family to the works to be established
by said company on or near the river Lehigh and there to undertake the erection
of a blast furnace for the smelting of iron with anthracite coal and the
working of the said furnace as Furnace manager, also to give his assistance in
finding mines of iron ore, fire clay, and other materials suitable for carrying
on iron works, and generally to give his best knowledge and services to said
company in the prosecution of the iron business in such manner as will best
promote their interests for a term of five years from the time of his arrival
in America, provided the experiment of smelting iron with anthracite coal
should be successful there.
"2.
The said Hazard for the said company agrees to pay the expenses of the said
Thomas and his family from his present residence to the works above mentioned
on the Lehigh and there to furnish him with a home and coal for fuel - also to
pay him a salary at the rate of Two hundred pounds sterling a year from the
time of his stipend ceasing in his present employment until the first furnace
on the Lehigh is got into blast with anthracite coal and making good iron and
after that at the rate of two hundred and fifty pounds sterling a year until a
second furnace is put into operation successfully when fifty pounds sterling
shall be added to his annual salary and so fifty pounds sterling per annum
additional for each additional furnace which may be put into operation under
his management.
"3.
It is mutually agreed between the parties that should the said Thomas fail of
putting a furnace into successful operation with anthracite coal that in that
case the present agreement shall be void and the said company shall then pay
the said Thomas a sum equivalent to the expense of removing himself and family
from the Lehigh to their present residence.
"4.
In settling the salary four shillings and six pence sterling are to be estimated
as equal to one dollar.
"In
witness whereof the said parties have interchangeably set their hands and seals
the date above written
"Erskine
Hazard [SEAL]
"for
Lehigh Crane Iron Co.
"David
Thomas (SEAL]
"Witness"
Alexander Hazard
It
is further mutually agreed between the Lehigh Crane Iron Company and David
Thomas the parties to the above written agreement that the amount of the said
Thomas salary per annum shall be ascertained by taking the United States Mint
price or value of the English Sovereign as the value of the pound sterling -
instead of estimating it by the value of the dollar as mentioned in the 4th
article and that the other remaining articles in the above written memorandum
of agreement executed by Erskine Hazard for the Lehigh Crane Iron Company and
David Thomas be hereby ratified and confirmed as they now stand written.
"In witness whereof the President and Secretary of the Lehigh Crane Iron
Company by order of the Board of Managers and the said David Thomas have
hereunto set their hands and seals at Philadelphia the second day of July 1839.
"David
Thomas (SEAL]
"In
presence of "Timothy Abbott."
The organization of the
Lehigh Crane Iron Company, prior to Mr. Hazard's going abroad, had been only an
informal one, and on the 10th of January 1839, it was perfected. The first
meeting of the board of directors was held in Philadelphia at that time. The
board consisted of Robert Earp, Josiah White, Erskine Hazard, Thomas Earp, John
McAllister, Jr., and Nathan Trotter. They organized by electing Robert Earp
president and treasurer, and John McAllister, Jr., secretary. On April 23,
1839, they entered into articles of association, which were as follows:
"Articles
of Association of the Lehigh Crane Iron Company, made and entered into under
and pursuant to an act of the Legislature of Pennsylvania entitled an act to
encourage the manufacture of Iron, with Coke, or Mineral Coal, and for other
purposes passed June the sixteenth, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-six.
"Witness,
that the subscribers, citizens of Pennsylvania, whose names are hereto affixed
have associated themselves, under and pursuant to the act aforesaid for the
purpose of making and manufacturing Iron, from the raw material with Coke or
Mineral coal, and do certify and declare the articles and conditions of their
association to be as follows:
"Article
1. - The name, style or title of the Company, shall be 'Lehigh Crane Iron
Company.'
"Article
2. - The lands to be purchased by the Company shall be in Northampton, or
Lehigh County, or both.
"Article
3. - The capital stock of the company shall consist of One hundred thousand
dollars divided into two thousand shares of fifty dollars each, the whole of
which has been subscribed for by the subscribers hereto in the numbers, of shares,
set opposite their respective names.
"Article
4. - The sum of twenty-five thousand dollars being one-fourth percent, of the
whole capital stock, subscribed for, has been actually paid in.
"Article
5. - The remaining installments on the stock, already subscribed for shall be
called in in such sums, and at such times and with such forfeiture for
non-payment thereof as the Board of Directors, may prescribe.
"Article
6. - The Board of Directors shall consist of such a number of persons as the
stockholders, may from time to time prescribe.
"Article
7. - This company shall be in all things subject to and governed by the
provisions of the Act of Assembly, under which it is created and shall have the
same, and no other, or greater powers, privileges, and franchises than are
conferred upon it by virtue of the said act.
"Philadelphia,
April 23, 1839.
Josiah
White
Erskine
Hazard
Thomas
Earp
George
Earp
Signed
John
McAllister, Jr.
Robert
Earp
Theodore
Mitchell
Nathan
Trotter
A charter for twenty-five
years was granted to the Lehigh Crane Iron Company on May 16, 1839, under the
June 16, 1836, Act of the Legislature referred to in the Articles.
In the Spring of 1839,
Samuel Glace, while inspecting the canal along Biery's Port, noticed a number of
men standing on the east side of the canal, which led him to think that there
might be a leak in its bed, and so he asked the lock-tender, Jonathan Snyder,
who they were. He then recognized Owen Rice and Frederick Biery, and they
introduced him to the strangers as gentlemen from Philadelphia. Shortly
afterwards, he received orders from Mauch Chunk, to ascertain if their were any
quick-sands along the canal at Biery's Port.
A tract of land was then
purchased from Frederick Biery by the Lehigh Crane Iron Company, which ran from
the canal to Howertown Road and laid between what later became Church and Wood
Streets.
During the first week of
May 1839, David Thomas and his family left Swansea on a coastal steamer for
Liverpool. From there they sailed on May 13, 1839, on the sailing packet
"Roscius" and on the 5th of June they arrived at New York, after 23
days at sea.
The first month on
American soil David Thomas spent in New Brighton, Staten Island, where he laid
ill with fever. On his recovery, David Thomas traveled to Philadelphia, with
his eldest son Samuel, where he had been called to attend a meeting of the
Lehigh Crane Iron Company Board. There, on July 2, 1839, he signed the
supplement to the agreement he made with Erskine Hazard. He returned to New Brighton
on July 4th, and two days later David Thomas and his family began their journey
to the Lehigh Valley. They traveled by train via Jersey City and New Brunswick,
at that time the terminus of the road. From New Brunswick the journey was
continued by stage, first night was spent at Easton, and Allentown was reached
on July 9, 1839.
On July 11, 1839, Mr.
Thomas and his son, Samuel, walked to Biery's Port to see where it was proposed
to erect the new furnace. When he reached the top, of Frederick's (Packer's)
Hill, he stopped "to view the landscape o'er." In the distance he saw
the Blue Mountains whose blue outline extended along the horizon.
The residence of George
Frederick was at the foot of the hill, and a few hundred feet to the north of
it, near the entrance to Biery's Bridge were the house and red barn of William
Miller; while just across the river from Frederick's was the residence of Jacob
Deily (George Taylor House); and at the far end of the bridge was the hamlet of
Biery's Port, where two farm houses on a large plain seemed to be the only
habitations directly north, and woods extended as far as the eye could reach to
the right.
While the prospecting
Welshman and his son stood there, a loud noise from the vicinity of the hamlet
startled them. Little Samuel, while in the great city of London, on the way to
their new home beyond the sea, with the foresight which was characteristic of
him in later years, had provided for such a supposed emergency by purchasing a
gun, but, alas, at that moment of apparent peril, he recalled that it was among
the family effects somewhere in a canal-boat on the Morris Canal, slowly moving
towards this point and not just then available. After discovering the cause of
the explosion, they decided to venture forward and soon reached the bridge
which they found to be constructed of chains, anchored at both ends and in the
center to heavy stone piers. They each paid a big copper penny to the toll
gatherer, Daniel Tombler, who later died from injuries received while
re-erecting the bridge after the freshet of 1841. Proceeding farther across the
canal bridge, they reached the hamlet, which consisted of a gristmill, sawmill,
fulling-mill, and several dwelling houses.
The middle stone
building on the north side of the road was the hotel of the place, and
Frederick Biery, the village nabob, sat there on a bench. Mr. Thomas entered
into a colloquy with him and soon learned from him where the proposed furnace
was to be erected. Hardly had he gotten this information, when suddenly, that
terrifying report again broke the prevailing quiet of the village, and turning
around quickly the agitated pedestrians in wonderment learned that it was
caused by an upright saw in yonder mill, ripping into slabs, by means of water
power, a large log on the skids.
Thence they walked to
the site of the proposed new enterprise, and after several hours, of making
measurements from which to work out plans for the construction of the plant,
they returned afoot, late in the afternoon, to their hotel in Allentown,
Haberacker's, later called the Hamilton. A house was then rented for Mr. Thomas
and his family and there they made their home for four months, until the
two-story frame dwelling, located at the southeast corner of Front and Church
Streets, was completed for them by the Lehigh Crane Iron Company.
Before leaving England,
David Thomas had had the blowing machinery and castings for the hot-blast made,
and all were shipped except the two blowing cylinders, which were too large for
the hatches of the ship. So when the other machinery arrived the investors in
the works were as badly off as if none had been sent. There was not at that
time a foundry in the United States large enough to cast such cylinders as were
needed. There were small ones at Allentown and Bethlehem. The company applied
to the Allaire Works of New York and the Alger of Boston, but neither of them
could bore a five-foot cylinder without enlarging their works, which they were
unwilling to do. David Thomas then went to Philadelphia to the Southwark
Foundry of S. V. Merrick and J. H. Towne, who enlarged their boring machinery
and made the five-foot cylinders required. Firebrick were imported from Wales,
there then being none manufactured in this country.
On or about August 1,
1839, construction began on the furnace of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works. The
stack was 45 feet high from the base of the hearth to the trunnel head, with a
chimney extending about 12 feet above the trunnel head. It was constructed of
limestone, 30 feet square at the base and tapering to about 23 feet square at
the top. The furnace was lined with courses of nine-inch-thick firebrick, with
a two-to-three-inch-thick clay packing between the lining and the limestone to
provide for the expansion of the lining. The hot-blasts consisted of four
stoves of 12 arched pipes each, 5 inches interior diameter, 1-1/2 inches thick
in the legs and 2 inches thick in the arch. They were built on the ground and
fired with coal, having deep closed ash-pits, into which blast was introduced
for active combustion, in lieu of a draft stack.
The blast was heated to
about 600 degrees and compressed by a breast-wheel 12 feet in diameter and 24
feet long; the fall of about eight feet between the canal-levels at Lock No. 36
furnished the power. On each end of the wheel were segments on its
circumference, of 10-inch face, geared into pinions on double cranks, these
driving two blowing-cylinders having a five foot diameter and a six foot
stroke, with parallel motion, and worked by beams on a gallows-frame. The blast
from the cylinders was conducted underneath the canal through an 18-inch
cast-iron pipe; this being the only receiver, the strokes of the cylinders
could be counted at the furnace-tuyere as easily as in the wheelhouse.
Sketch showing configuration
and dimensions of No. 1 Furnace at the Lehigh Crane Iron Company.
From Transactions of the
American Institute of Mining Engineers, Vol. XXIX, 1899.
The first load of ore
brought to the works was delivered April 30, 1840, by Henry Hoch. This was
hematite from Jacob Rice's (brother of Owen Rice) mine in Hanover Township,
Lehigh County. The first magnetic ore brought to the furnace in 1840 was from
Mount Hope mine in Morris County, New Jersey.
Artist's view at the
first furnace built at Catasauqua by David Thomas in 1840.
From Popular Science
Monthly, Vol. 38, No. 4, 1891
Water-powered blowing
engine for Furnace No. 1 at the Crane Iron Works Catasauqua.
From Transactions of the
American Institute of Mining Engineers, Vol. XXIX, 1899
After many difficulties
and discouragements, the furnace was finally blown in at five o'clock in the
evening on July 3, 1840 and the first run of iron was made the 4th of July
1840. The proportion of ores used was one-third magnetic and two-thirds brown
hematite (limonite). The keepers in charge of the furnace during the first heat
were William Philips and Evan Jones.
On January 7th and 8th
of 1841 a great freshet occurred in the Lehigh River. After a period of intense
cold weather at years end, rain with a warm southern wind began on Wednesday,
January 6th and continued during Thursday, January 7, 1841. This brought on a
sudden thaw and the river and streams rose rapidly to an unprecedented height.
Recorded in one of the
books of the Lehigh Crane Iron Company, was the handwritten note by David
Thomas:
"On
Thursday, January 7th, at nine o'clock in the evening the river rose so that
the back water prevented the wheel from turning, at half after ten covering the
tow-path of the level above Lock No. 36. At twelve it was two feet over the
banks, and was one foot over the bottom of the hearth of the furnace. At 1:20
the water was at its height, and thirty-four inches in the furnace. It was at
this height until 3:30 o'clock, when the river began to fall. The water wheel
was muddied all over, and the water was nine inches over its top. The dam and
canal bank was broken, so that when the water fell in the river it was too low
to turn the wheel, though every effort was made to fill up the banks, - but
they could not succeed, and were obliged to throw the furnace out on Monday the
11th of January.
"David
Thomas.
During the six-month
period that the furnace operated before the freshet, one thousand and
eighty-eight tons of pig iron were produced. The largest output for one week
was fifty-two tons. The furnace was blown in again on May 18, 1841, and
continued in blast until August 6, 1842, producing in this period 3,316 tons of
pig iron.
The main offices of the
corporation were maintained at Philadelphia from 1839 to 1895. Theodore Mitchell
was elected president in 1845, succeeding Robert Earp, who was then elected
vice-president. The office of secretary, originally filled by John McAllister,
was taken by John A. McAllister in 1844, and Benjamin Leedom in 1848. Plant
offices were established in Catasauqua on the east side of Front Street,
between Wood and Church Streets. David Thomas served as superintendent of the
new enterprise, with Owen Rice serving as Cashier.
During 1842, Furnace No.
2 was erected, with a height of 45 feet and a 13-foot 4-inch bosh, and it was
blown in on November 4, 1842, remaining in blast until March 17, 1844,
producing five thousand and thirteen tons of iron. The main difference with
this furnace and Furnace No. 1 was that the hot blast was heated by waste gas
instead of by a separate heating apparatus on the ground. Also in 1842, an
additional water-wheel was added of the same size as the first, to which it was
geared, and in 1844 an additional blowing power was added by the introduction
of two turbine wheels eight feet in diameter, which drove two horizontal
cylinders of five feet diameter and six feet stroke; the wheels and all
machinery connected with them being built by Merrick and Towne, of
Philadelphia.
When Furnace No. 2 was built
at Catasauqua in 1842, the hot blast was heated by waste as instead of by a
separate heating apparatus on the ground, as was used for No. 1 Furnace
From Transactions of the
American Institute of Mining Engineers, Vol. XXIX, 1899
About 1845, the Lehigh
Crane Iron Company felt the necessity of a separate bridge for its use, because
iron ore beds were discovered at different places in South Whitehall Township
and the hauling of the ore around by way of the Biery Bridge came to be
considered a serious item, with the enlarged toll bill from the bridge company.
The statute law of
Pennsylvania, however, forbade the erection of a bridge so near an existing
bridge. To circumvent this statute, the company purchased land on both sides of
the river and thus were in a position to construct a private bridge for
themselves.
After its erection there
were times when teams hauling the ore became so numerous that they extended in
a continuous row from approximately where the entrance of Fairview Cemetery is
now located, across the bridge to the plant offices on Front Street.
During the 1840's, the
company built 80 two-story brick houses for their workers, located on Wood,
Church, Peach and Limestone Streets. A well was sunk by the company opposite
the furnaces on Front Street, and a "Municipal pump" was installed,
whence the whole community drew water. After Furnace No. 1 was put in blast a
pump was attached to the blast wheel, with a reservoir being placed on top of
the works.
At a suggestion of David
Thomas, a meeting of the villagers was called, November 4, 1845, for the
purpose of organizing a fire company. Thirty-seven men were in attendance and
they adopted the name, "The Humane Fire Company." A charter was
granted on March 14, 1846, and a hand force pump was purchased, which was then housed
in a frame building on Crane Iron Works property on the east side of Second
Street, near Church Street. The company then erected a brick fire hall on Front
Street, close by the old "Municipal pump."
The No. 3 furnace was
put on line in 1846 and its height was 47 feet, with a bosh of 17 feet 4
inches. It was blown by two cylinders of five and one half feet diameter and a six-foot
stroke, which were driven by two engines with steam cylinders of twenty-six
inches diameter and six-foot stroke. All of the furnaces were fitted with iron
stoves, and the three furnaces had a total weekly capacity of about 420 tons.
With the completion of
No. 3 furnace new water pumping apparatus was constructed, and four-inch pipes
were laid from the engine-house to Wood Street, up Wood Street to Second
Street, north on Second Street to Church Street, and from thence to a basin,
which was located on the north side of Church Street, near Howertown Road.
Furnaces No. 4 and No. 5
were completed during 1849, with heights of 45 feet and eighteen-foot boshes.
The blowing cylinders for each of these furnaces were nine foot stroke and
seven foot diameter, and they were operated by two engines, the steam cylinders
of which had a nine foot stroke, while their diameters, originally thirty-six
inches, were afterwards enlarged to forty-eight inches. The company also
increased its property size by purchasing more land north to what is now Gas
Street, between Front Street and the canal.
The Lehigh Valley
Railroad, whose tracks were laid on the west bank of the Lehigh River, was
completed in the fall of 1855. With its arrival at Catasauqua the Lehigh Crane
Iron Works became less dependent on the canal as a means of procuring raw
materials for their furnaces.
The Lehigh Crane Iron
Company assisted by the Thomas Iron Company sought a charter from the State for
a railroad from Catasauqua to Fogelsville. After prolonged efforts, the
railroad charter was secured and construction on the Catasauqua &
Fogelsville Railroad began in the spring of 1856. The formal opening of this
line was during the summer of 1857.
The Lehigh Crane Iron
Company also maintained a standard gauge and a narrow gauge railroad on their
property to transport coal, iron ore, cinder, etc. The company continued to
expand its plant railroad, which eventually included a narrow gauge line
running south of the borough to a cinder dump in Hanover Township, located
between the canal and the Lehigh River.
David Thomas
relinquished the superintendency of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works in 1855,
fifteen years after he successfully blew in the first furnace at Catasauqua and
during his tenure he erected and successfully operated four other furnaces.
David Thomas continued to serve the company as Cashier and he served as such
until 1865, when he was succeeded by John Williams, who served in this capacity
until his death in 1892. John Thomas, second son of David Thomas, was appointed
to succeed his father as superintendent and he served as such until 1867, when
he left the employ of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works to become superintendent of
the Thomas Iron Company.
During the flood of
1862, on the 4th and 5th of June, with the river rising twenty-four feet above
its usual level, the engineer of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works stayed in the
engine-room, and was instrumental in rescuing two persons from drowning. Many
of the canal boats that were loaded with ore were lost. When morning dawned
persons were discovered taking refuge upon cinder banks, in trees and in the
archway of Biery's Bridge. Superintendent John Thomas assembled some of the
plant's carpenters together and had a flat-bottom boat built, in one hour and a
half, for the occasion and all persons were brought to shore safely by eight
o'clock. The Crane Bridge across the Lehigh River was completely destroyed and
was soon after replaced.
The destruction, by
fire, of the machine shop in 1865, demonstrated the inefficiency of the fire
apparatus of the Humane Fire Company, which soon after disbanded and on April
23, 1866, the Phoenix Steam Fire Company No. 1 was organized and they then
occupied the fire hall on Front Street, which had been built for the old Humane
Fire Company by the Lehigh Crane Iron Works.
George A. Wood was
elected president of the corporation in 1868 and in 1869 George T. Barnes was
elected secretary. Joshua Hunt, who had entered the employment of the company
as a bookkeeper in 1843 and had married on the 13th of April 1844, Gwenilian
Thomas, daughter of David Thomas, succeeded John Thomas as superintendent in
1867. He had served as assistant superintendent under his predecessor. Joshua
Hunt's son, Thomas Hunt was then made assistant superintendent and he served as
such from 1867 to 1872.
In 1868, No. 6 stack, 60
feet high, with a bosh diameter of 17 1/2 feet, was erected; it was the last
Crane furnace built with iron pipe stoves. During 1872, when an increase was
being made in the Capital Stock, the corporate name of the Lehigh Crane Iron
Company was changed to "The Crane Iron Company." On June 22, 1872,
Thomas Hunt was severely injured by a premature explosion of nitroglycerine
used in cleaning out one of the furnaces and he expired from his injuries on
July 9, 1872. Joseph Hunt, brother of Joshua Hunt, then became assistant
superintendent.
By 1872 the growth of
the borough and the requirements of water for six furnaces taxed the reservoir,
located on Church Street to its utmost capacity. Buildings in portions of town
of a great elevation were unable to obtain a water supply, and this, coupled
with the rapidly growing bounds of the borough, induced Superintendent Joshua
Hunt to bring the matter before the Board of Directors of the Crane Iron
Company. The sum of twenty-five thousand dollars was appropriated and plans
were drawn up. Work commenced during 1873, with new and larger lines being laid
under the borough's streets and a new reservoir was constructed on a lot
purchased by the Crane Iron Company at the northwest corner of Walnut and
Currant Streets, which was the highest point of ground then in the borough
limits.
The Crane Iron Company
purchased a fire engine steamer from the Southwark Hose Company No. 9, of
Philadelphia and on February 4, 1873, the Southwark Hose Company No. 9, of
Catasauqua was organized, with all the charter members being employees of the
Crane Iron Works. The steamer was originally housed in the pattern shop of the
Crane, located at the northeast corner of Front and Wood Streets. A two-story
fire hall, was built by the Crane Iron Works on their property at the southwest
corner of Second and Church Streets for the comfort and pleasure of the
members.
During 1878, George A.
Wood resigned the presidency and the office was then filled by Samuel Dickson,
Esq. Secretary George T. Barnes was also elected treasurer in 1876, and he then
served in both capacities. The No. 5 stack was rebuilt in 1877 and was equipped
with three Whitwell regenerative firebrick stoves.
In 1879, No. 3 stack
collapsed while out of blast, leading to the decision to remove the three
oldest stacks and erect new ones on the sites of No. 1 and No. 3, and to place
Whitwell firebrick stoves on the ground formally occupied by stack No. 2. The
old furnaces were torn down in 1880 and were replaced by modern furnaces, with
iron shells and firebrick stoves, designed by the assistant superintendent
Joseph Hunt. The new No. 3 furnace was completed and blown in in November 1880.
The furnace was 65 feet in height, with a seventeen-foot bosh and was built at
a cost of $96,211.10. The new No. 1 completed in 1881, was also 75 feet high,
with an 18-foot bosh and cost $103,461.74. Also at this time the old boilers,
which had been in use from the original erection of the plant and were no
longer safe, were replaced with new steel boilers and a new boiler house was
erected at a total cost of $84,410.23. With these improvements, the capacity of
the five furnaces became approximately 100,000 net tons per year.
On December 31, 1881,
Joshua Hunt retired as superintendent of the Crane Iron Works and on January 1,
1882, Joseph Hunt was appointed superintendent of the plant. The increased capacity
of the new furnaces required additional blowing engines, and two new engines
were furnished by the I. P. Morris Company and put in operation in January
1884, at a cost of $31,283.43.
The members of the Board
of Directors of the Crane Iron Company serving in 1884 were as follows: Samuel
Dickson, Charles L. Bone, Henry Winsor, Samuel R. Shipley, Fisher Hazzard,
Robert Lenox, Charles S. Wurtz, and Alexander Biddle.
William R. Thomas I
became superintendent of the works in March 1887 and he served as such until
1891. Leonard Peckitt became associated with the Crane Iron Company in 1887 as
chief chemist and in the fall of 1888 he was chosen assistant superintendent of
the works, and at the same time he also took charge of the Edge Hill Furnace,
in Montgomery County, and the furnace at Macungie, both of which had been
leased by the Crane Iron Company. In 1889, No. 3 furnace was raised to 75 feet
and it was then continued in blast until the later part of 1913, when it was
dismantled. The No. 4 stack was blown out in July 1890, and a few years later
was dismantled. Leonard Peckitt was appointed superintendent in 1891,
succeeding William R. Thomas, and by 1893 the four remaining furnaces had a
combined capacity of 130,000 tons per annum. The leased furnaces at Macungie
and Edge Hill, being smaller, had a capacity of about fifty thousand tons per
year.
During the economic turn
down caused by the Panic of 1893 the failure of many large steel works that
were indebted to the Crane Iron Company crippled the resources of the latter to
the extent that they went into the hands of receivers, one of whom was Leonard
Peckitt. Leonard Peckitt was then serving as general manager and in 1894 he was
also elected president of the firm. All property, rights, franchises and
privileges of the Crane Iron Company were transferred on January 30, 1895, to
the Crane Iron Works, the existing corporation. The company's main offices were
transferred from Philadelphia to Catasauqua in 1895 and were then located in
the plant office building on Front Street. For many years the revenues of the
water system were not given close attention, and with the reverses coming to
the company, the receivers returned the water rights of the company back to the
Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company.
By 1893, the Crane Iron
Works was using two-thirds anthracite coal and one-third coke as fuel for
smelting ore in their furnaces. They manufactured all the different grades of
pig iron, including ordinary foundry iron, branded "Crane;" special,
branded "Castle;" ordinary Bessemer, branded "Michigan;"
and the basic iron used in steel works, branded "Pottstown."
On December 5, 1894, the
Crane Iron Works sold a plot of ground, located on the west side of Howertown Road
by Peach Street, to the Catasauqua School District for $3,500 and on April 30,
1896 an additional lot, adjoining the former, was sold to the district for one
thousand dollars.
In 1897, Thomas Edison,
a personal friend of Leonard Peckitt, selected the Crane Iron Works to test the
suitability of his iron ore concentrate, which he produced from low-grade ore
at a plant near Franklin, New Jersey. After much experimentation, Mr. Edison
had devised a method of concentrating ore by combining the use of massive rock
crushers with magnetic separation. Twenty-five thousand tons of the concentrate
was used with great success during the late 1890's. However, the high cost of
Edison's concentrate relative to the newly developed Masabi ores caused his
plant to be shut down.
In 1899, Leonard Peckitt
took an active part in the formation of the Empire Steel and Iron Company, of
which he was elected president. The company incorporated under the laws of the
State of New Jersey on March 13, 1899 and located their main offices in New York
City. The new company acquired and operated blast furnaces in Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Virginia and North Carolina, one of which was the Crane Iron Works at
Catasauqua. The General Offices of the Empire Steel and Iron Company were
transferred from New York City to Catasauqua on June 1, 1900.
In 1901, No. 1 stack was
rebuilt to 77-1/2 feet, with a bosh diameter of 17 feet 4 inches, and it was equipped
with three modern Cowper stoves to heat the blast. The No. 5 furnace was torn
down in 1908 and a furnace designated as No. 2 was erected on the same site, 80
feet in height, with a 17-1/2 foot bosh and it was also equipped with three
Cowper stoves.
In 1904, the Crane Iron
Works built a new plate girder railroad bridge across the Lehigh River to
replace the old wooden covered bridge. In order to extend certain tracks and to
save a large outlay of cash for transfer and shifting of cars by and from other
roads, the company applied for and was granted a charter for the Crane Railroad
Company, July 28, 1905.
The Empire Steel and
Iron Company erected a three-story brick office building at 124 Bridge Street,
at a cost of $20,000 and in 1908 the offices of the Empire Steel and Iron
Company and the plant offices of the Crane Iron Works were moved to the new
building. On October 8, 1908, a perpetual charter was granted the Crane Iron
Works and in December 1911, Milton 0. Knauss was made superintendent of the
plant, succeeding H. R. Hall.
The Crane Railroad
Company received permission from the borough council in November 1909, to
construct a tunnel from Second Street eastward past Howertown Road.
Right-of-ways were purchased for the railroad tracks, and land was acquired,
including 23 plus acres in Kurtz Valley, for the purpose of establishing a
cinder dump. Construction commenced on March 21, 1910 and was completed by November
1910. The Crane Railroad Company was purchased by the Lehigh and New England
Railroad Company in July 1914.
In February 1914,
Furnace No. 6 was torn down, leaving the plant with two furnaces, No. 1 and No.
2, with a combined annual capacity of approximately 130,000 tons. During the
Old Home Week Celebration, June 28th thru July 4th of 1914, which had a dual
purpose in being both a homecoming for families and friends and also a
celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Crane Iron Works,
the furnaces remained operating and visitors were allowed to tour the plant and
to watch the iron making process.
Commencing with the
United States involvement in World War I, America's iron and steel industry did
a thriving business and the Crane Iron Works was no exception, but, with the
war's end and a "return to normalcy," the company's fortunes began a
slow withdrawal from which there would be no return.
During 1920, No. 2
furnace was completely rebuilt at a height of 90 feet, with a 20-1/2 foot bosh.
More powerful blowing engines were installed and the plant's capacity was
raised to 185,000 tons per year. The Cowper stoves were replaced in 1921, with
four Roberts stoves, three with dimensions of 90 by 18 feet, and the other 100
by 20 feet. A pig-casting machine, manufactured by the Pittsburgh Coal Washer
Company, was also installed at that time.
The Replogle Steel
Company was incorporated in Delaware, October 30, 1919, for the purpose of
acquiring the entire capital stock of the Wharton Steel Company, incorporated
in New Jersey, November 8, 1907, which controlled the Wharton and Northern
Railroad Company. On November 6, 1919, the Replogle Steel Company took control
of the Wharton Steel Company and on March 1, 1922, the latter was merged with
the former. On April 10, 1922, the Replogle Steel Company acquired control of
the Empire Steel and Iron Company, with Leonard Peckitt then being elected
president.
The Warren Pipe and
Foundry Company, organized in New Jersey in 1856, was acquired by the Replogle
Steel Company in August, 1924, and on March 29, 1927, the stockholders of the
Replogle Steel Company approved a re-capitalization plan and a change of the
corporate name to Warren Foundry and Pipe Corporation, which was then
incorporated in Delaware on April 8, 1927.
The No. 1 stack was
dismantled in December 1922, and the capacity of the sole remaining stack was
135,000 tons. On February 1, 1924, the Crane Iron Works sold a tract of land,
located from beneath the Pine Street Bridge, north to Gas Street and laying
between Front Street and the tracks of the Lehigh and New England Railroad, to
the F. W. Wint Company. The company homes owned by the Crane Iron Works,
located on Wood, Church, Peach and Limestone Streets, were put up for sale and
sold to private individuals in 1926.
The American Legion
acquired a plot of the company's land on Second Street and there they erected
their Home during the year of 1924, and in November 1928, Leonard Peckitt,
acting for the Crane Iron Works, donated an adjoining lot for the World War I
Memorial.
The No. 2 furnace, while
as modern as any operating at the Bethlehem Steel Company, was only operated
sporadically throughout the 1920's. In 1930, the Warren Foundry and Pipe
Corporation had the Crane Iron Works' last furnace dismantled and in 1938, the
remaining Catasauqua property was disposed of, ending almost a century of
existence.
UNION
FOUNDRY and MACHINE COMPANY
The Union Foundry and
Machine Company was established in 1851 by John Fritz, together with his
brother, George Fritz, and brother-in-laws, B. F. Stroud and Isaac E. Chandler.
The foundry, located at the southeast corner of Front and Pine Streets, was the
first foundry in the Lehigh Valley, and one of the first in the nation to
produce cast iron columns for construction purposes. After John Fritz removed
to Johnstown in 1854 to serve as superintendent of the Cambria Iron Works, the
foundry was acquired by William Michel and David Thomas. The establishment then
passed into the hands of David Thomas, who, in 1869, sold the business to
Oliver Williams, David Williams and William P. Hopkins.
The plant was enlarged
in 1882 to meet the demands of increasing business. William P. Hopkins sold his
interest in 1891 and David Williams died on May 26, 1894, from injuries
received during a fall at his home. The business was shortly afterward
incorporated with Oliver Williams as president, and his nephew, J. Arthur
Williams, as secretary and treasurer.
In 1901 the firm was
obliged to locate elsewhere so as to secure larger quarters. They accordingly
established a plant along the north side of Race Street, between the canal and
the Lehigh River, on seven acres of ground. Oliver Williams passed away on
September 17, 1904 and the company ceased operations in 1905.
A meeting was held
February 14, 1854, at Mr. White's tavern on Center Square, Easton,
Pennsylvania, to discuss plans for the organization of an iron company, and it
was attended by the following persons: David Thomas and Samuel Thomas, of
Catasauqua; Edwin A. Douglass, of Mauch Chunk; Charles A. Luckenbach, Michael
Krause, and John P. Scholl, of Bethlehem; Benjamin Clark, of New York; Ephraim
Marsh and William H. Talcott, of New Jersey; and Dr. Henry Detwiler, Peter S.
Michler, John Drake, Derrick Hulick, Russel S. Chidsey, John T. Knight, Daniel
Whitsell, and Carman F. Randolph, of Easton.
A resolution was adopted
calling the new enterprise "The Thomas Iron Company" in honor of
David Thomas who projected it, and in recognition of his work as pioneer in the
successful manufacture of iron by the use of anthracite coal. The capital stock
was fixed at two hundred thousand dollars, with 4,000 shares at fifty dollars a
share issued. The following subscribers were elected to the Board of Directors:
Edwin A. Douglass, William H. Talcott, Ephriam Marsh, Peter S. Michler, John
Drake, Russel S. Chidsey and Charles A. Luckenbach. Samuel Thomas then was
selected as superintendent and put in charge of erecting two blast furnaces.
David Thomas was
authorized to purchase the Thomas Butz farm situated on the west bank of the
Lehigh River, near Swartz's (Hokendauqua) Dam, as the most eligible site for
the works. The farm contained 185 acres 90 perches and the price paid for it
was $37,112.50, with the deed being passed July 7, 1854. Other land was
acquired bringing the total acreage to 294 acres 65 perches, with a total cost
of $120,502. A special charter from the State of Pennsylvania was granted and
approved on April 4, 1854.
The following persons
also became stock subscribers in 1854, making up the total subscription of
$200,000: Jacob Singmaster, John Thomas, William Reed, John Brown, B. I.
Leedom, Augustus Wolle, I. V. Williamson and Thomas Butz.
At a meeting of the
Board of Directors, June 8, 1854, the name of the site of the furnaces was
selected and adopted. The suggestion had been made to call it Coplay, the town
above it being called "Schriber's" at that time. But after some
discussion David Thomas' suggestion of Hokendauqua, derived from the creek, was
adopted. On November 9, 1854, the town was laid out by the company and lots
were donated for a schoolhouse and for a Presbyterian Church and over two
hundred company homes were later erected.
The furnaces were
substantially built, each 60 feet in height, with an eighteen-foot bosh, with
contract for the masonry work given to Samuel McHose of Allentown. A contract
for the first two boilers was made April 7, 1854, at a cost of $9,353 on the
wharf at Brooklyn; and for two beam blowing engines on boat at Cold Springs, New
York, at $42,600. The engines had a steam cylinder of 56-inch diameter, and the
blowing cylinders of 84-inch diameter, with a nine-foot stroke.
Furnace No. 1 was put in
blast June 1, 1855, followed by Furnace No. 2 on October 23rd. They were a
complete success from the first blast, and the pig iron was equal to the best
in the country.
In 1855, additional
subscribers of company stock were as follows: Joshua Hunt, Charles H. Dexter,
William H. Sayre, Sr., Valentine W. Weaver, Thomas McKeen, Enoch Ketcham, John
D. Locke, John F. Starr, Enoch Loche, Augustus G. Richey and John W. Quincy.
United with the Lehigh
Crane Iron Company, the Thomas Iron Company established the Catasauqua and
Fogelsville Railroad in 1856, subscribing 40 percent of the original cost. The
Lehigh Valley Railroad had already arrived on the west bank of the Lehigh River
in 1855, allowing the Thomas Iron Company access to the coal fields to the north
and the iron ore deposits in New Jersey.
During 1857, No. 1
furnace produced 9,731 tons of iron and No. 2 furnace produced 8,366 tons.
Furnace No. 3 was built in 1862 and was blown in on July 18, 1862, with No. 4
furnace following on April 29, 1863. Samuel Thomas, who earlier had been
appointed a director, was elected president of the company on August 31, 1864.
After resigning the superintendency of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works, John Thomas
became superintendent of the Thomas Iron Company in 1867.
The Lock Ridge Iron
Company, of Alburtis, acquired a charter on December 26, 1866, with Samuel
Thomas as president and J. H. Knight as secretary-treasurers the same positions
that they held with the Thomas Iron Company. Construction began in 1867 and the
first furnace was put in blast on March 18, 1868; the second furnace was blown
in on July 9, 1869. On May 1, 1869, the entire capital stock was acquired at
par value by the Thomas Iron Company.
Furnace No. 5 at the
Hokendauqua plant was blown in September 15, 1873 and No. 6 furnace was put in
blast January 19, 1874. All of the six furnaces were of the traditional masonry
stacks and employed iron pipe stoves.
In 1882, the Thomas Iron
Company secured complete ownership of the Ironton Railroad, for hauling the
ore, coal, limestone and iron, for their operations at Hokendauqua. Also on
April 1, 1882, the Keystone Furnace, located at the Borough of Glendon, was
purchased and on December 13, 1884, the Thomas Iron Company purchased the
Saucon Iron Company, near Hellertown, for $300,000.
With these purchases the
Thomas Iron Company operated eleven furnaces and they were designated as No. 1
through No. 6 at the Hokendauqua plant, Nos. 7 and 8 at Lock Ridge, No. 9 at
Keystone, and Nos. 10 and 11 at Saucon; and from March 22, 1886, until December
15, 1887, the Thomas Iron Company operated under lease the Lucy Furnace at
Glendon.
Samuel Thomas resigned
as president on September 22, 1887 and he was succeeded by Benjamin G. Clarke,
who served as such until 1892, when he was succeeded by John Knight. John
Thomas retired from active business in 1893.
In 1891, three
regenerative stoves, 65 by 17 feet, were added to No. 6 stack. The old No. 1
furnace was demolished after its last blast on February 7, 1893, and replaced
with a new sheet iron stack, 80 feet high, with a 17-foot bosh, which was blown
in on August 1, 1894. This furnace was operated with Durham pipe stoves until
January 8, 1898, when it was equipped with three Taws and Hartman regenerative
stoves.
B. F. Fackenthal was
elected president on January 19, 1893, succeeding John Knight, who had served
only two months before his death. The No. 2 furnace was abandoned on August 13,
1893 and the old No. 3 stack was blown out on October 26, 1897, and replaced
with a new sheet iron stack similar to the rebuilt No. 1. The new No. 3 furnace
was equipped with three regenerative stoves, which were duplicates of those
added to Furnace No. 1. The new No. 3 stack was put in blast on October 26,
1899.
The No. 5 furnace, which
had been abandoned in 1897, was revived in 1899 and in 1903 was equipped with
Durham pipe stoves. Furnace No. 4 was abandoned after its last blast on May 20,
1902, and during 1905 two new Allis-Chalmers cross-compound blowing engines
were added to stacks No. 1 and No. 3, and in 1906 a fourth regenerative stove
was added to each of these stacks.
On May 1, 1913, B. F.
Fackenthal left the presidency and on August 1st, Ralph H. Sweetser was elected
president. By 1915, No. 5 furnace and No. 6 furnace, both old stone stacks, had
been abandoned, and the only remaining stacks were No. 1 and No. 3. William A.
Barrows, Jr., succeeded Ralph H. Sweetser as president in 1916, and on June 28,
1917, the Thomas Iron Company sold the Keystone Furnace to the Northern Ore
Company of Philadelphia.
The two remaining stacks
at Hokendauqua, No. 1 and No. 3, were continually updated through the early
1920's. Additional, and larger, regenerative stoves were added and a Pittsburgh
Coal Washer Company double-strand pig-casting machine was installed. Operations
at the Saucon Iron furnaces, near Hellertown, ceased in late 1921 and soon
thereafter the whole plant was sold and dismantled for scrape. The Lock Ridge
furnaces ceased operations in December 1921 and the entire property was sold to
William Butz, of Alburtis, for scrap.
The Thomas Iron
Company's stock was sold to Drexel and Company on June 30, 1922, and they
subsequently sold the railroad stock to the Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Central
Railroad of New Jersey, and the Reading Railroad and the other property and
assets to the Reading Iron Company.
By 1924, Furnace No. 1
had been abandoned and in 1927 No. 3 stack, which had been renamed the Mary
Furnace, was also blown out. In September, 1924, the Reading Iron Company put
the 238 company homes in Hokendauqua up for sale, with an average asking price
of $2,000, also at that time company land that had been leased for farming was
also disposed of. In the mid 1930's the works was sold to the Bethlehem Steel
Company, which dismantled the entire plant for scrap. Samuel R. Thomas
surrendered the company's charter to the State in June, 1942, fifteen years
after the last furnace was blown out.
CATASAUQUA
MANUFACTURING COMPANY
The Catasauqua
Manufacturing Company was originally incorporated on February 20, 1863 as the
Northern Iron Company, for the manufacture of armor plate for war vessels, and
also rails; and a mill was erected along the canal, north of Pine Street. The
company was capitalized at $100,000, which was afterwards increased to $500,000.
David Thomas was elected president; with Charles G. Earp, secretary and
treasurer; and David Eynon, superintendent. Just as the plant had gotten ready
to start production the Civil War ended and the mill changed to manufacture
tank and boiler plates, afterward adding sheet-iron. In 1866, William P.
Hopkins was elected superintendent, and a change was made in the nature of the
manufacture, an eighteen-inch bar-iron train and a ten-inch guide mill train
being added to the plant. During 1867, Oliver Williams was elected general
manager, and John Williams, secretary.
In 1864, a rolling mill
had been erected at Ferndale (Fullerton) by the East Penn Iron Company, under
the charter of the Eastern Iron Company, and its name subsequently changed to
the Lehigh Manufacturing Company. In 1868, this mill was leased and on October
1, 1870 sold to the Catasauqua Manufacturing Company for $100,000. Edward
Edwards was elected superintendent for the Ferndale plant in 1868. The Ferndale
plant produced bar and skelp iron.
David Thomas served as
president of the company the greater part of the time from 1863 until 1879,
though the office was also administered by Samuel and John Thomas, his sons,
during that period. On David Thomas' resignation in February, 1879, Oliver Williams
was elected president and about the same time Henry Davis, who had been with
the company from the start was elected treasurer. The firm also built
twenty-four company homes, known as "Puddler's Row," on Front Street
and Railroad Street, between Almond and Arch Streets.
In 1882, the total
production of the two mills was 36,000 tons, with 600 employees; and the
estimated value was $2,000,000. A small mill was erected south of the mill near
Pine Street, which was named Mill C, and another was erected north of the
Ferndale plant, which was named Mill D.
During 1892, a severe
and prolonged strike caused a cease in operations and with the economic turn
down caused by the Panic of 1893 this great company failed. The Catasauqua
plants were dismantled and the property later became part of the F. W. Wint
Company. The Ferndale plants were sold to James W. Fuller II, who organized the
Lehigh Foundry Company.
Daniel Davies had
learned the iron trade in Wales, his native land, and for fifteen years held a
responsible position with the Lehigh Crane Iron Company. In 1865, with his son,
George Davies and William Thomas, Daniel Davies purchased an old planing mill
in East Catasauqua, on Race Street by the Catasauqua Creek, and fitted it up as
a foundry and machine shop. The concern traded under the name Davies, Thomas
and Company. The business continued until 1868, when William Thomas sold his
interest to his partners and returned to Wales. The company was then renamed
Daniel Davies and Son. The business carried on until the death of Daniel Davies
on April 8, 1876, after which it was shut down because of poor business
conditions.
The works were shut down
until February, 1879, when James Thomas, brother-in--law of George Davies,
bought a half interest in the business and the partnership of Davies and Thomas
was formed for the manufacture of general foundry and machine work, vertical
and horizontal engines, car castings and appliances for furnaces, mills and
mines. The plant covered twenty acres of ground and comprised a number of
buildings covering a floor space of 35,000 feet. Five vertical engines supplied
the motive power; and the employees numbered between one hundred and seventy-five
to two hundred.
George Davies passed
away on October 1, 1894 and the firm was then organized into a chartered
company, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, on December 21, 1894.
The stock was afterwards increased to three hundred thousand dollars. The
general agent of the company was A. R. McHenry until his death in 1898, when
Charles R. Horn, son-in-law of James Thomas, was appointed to succeed him at
the company's general offices in New York City.
James Thomas served as
president of the newly chartered company until his death on December 18, 1906,
and he was succeeded as president of the company by his son, Rowland D. Thomas,
at a meeting of the company in January of 1907. Leonard Peckitt was elected
president in November 1911 and Charles R. Horn served as secretary, with Harry
E. Graffin, son-in-law of George Davies, serving as treasurer. Hopkin Thomas,
son of James Thomas, held the position of general manager until his death on
March 23, 1924. The company had an estimated value of five hundred thousand
dollars in 1914; and the Board of Directors was made up as follows: Leonard
Peckitt, President; Rowland D. Thomas, Hopkin Thomas, Harry E. Graff in and
George Davies, Jr. The firm employed between two hundred and fifty and five
hundred men, depending upon conditions of the trade.
This company was a
pioneer in the manufacture of iron plates for lining tunnels under rivers by
the shield method. Starting in 1905, with the Pennsylvania Railroad Tunnel, it
supplied the extensive tubes for the sub-aqueous tunnels at New York City. Some
of the more well-known and prominent transportation projects in which extensive
quantities were used were the Holland (1923), Lincoln (1937), Queens-Midtown
(1936-1940), and Battery-to-Brooklyn (1945) vehicular tunnels, and the
Pennsylvania Railroad, Harlem River and MacAdoo Tunnels for railroad traffic.
In 1923, while in the
process of furnishing cast-iron lining for the Holland Vehicular Tunnel, the
George H. Flinn Corporation of New York, the master contractor, came into
control of the Davies and Thomas Company, with S. M. Rutledge of that firm
becoming president.
A few years later the
ownership again changed when the United States Pipe and Foundry Company of
Burlington, New Jersey, acquired control and elected George Davies, Jr., to the
presidency. George Davies, Jr., had been serving as general sales agent at the
Davies and Thomas Company headquarters in New York City for many years. On or
about 1945, Mr. Davies secured control by purchase of stock held by the United
States Pipe and Foundry Company, and during the intervening years to 1947, the
company fulfilled a contract for cast-iron lining for the Battery-to-Brooklyn
Vehicular Tunnel. Operations were thereafter suspended; George Davies, Jr.,
then disposed of the plant by selling all of the physical assets to the Schneider
Associates of Allentown, in October of 1947.
Daniel Milson came to
Catasauqua in 1854, and found employment at the Lehigh Crane Iron Works as a
boilermaker. In 1865 he embarked in business for himself, renting the shop from
the Lehigh Crane Iron Works, which was located near Front and Willow Streets.
He continued to operate the business, which employed fifty men, until his
retirement in 1890.
In April 1901, Samuel
McCloskey, a long time employee of Daniel Milson, established the Catasauqua
Boiler Works in the old Crane Iron Works building. After a successful career of
two years Samuel McCloskey's three brothers, John, William and James, came from
the far vest in order to join their brother in business. With the increase in orders
the old shop became to small, and the company, therefore, bought the site of
the old rolling mill property of the Catasauqua Manufacturing Company, at Brick
and Lumber Streets. The firm then employed approximately forty men.
During 1907, the partnership
was dissolved, and the property was sold to the F. W. Wint Company. The
following year Samuel McCloskey re-rented his original shop from the Crane Iron
Works and carried on a small business, employing fifteen hands, until the
venture was abandoned in 1917 due to unfavorable conditions.
LEHIGH
CAR, WHEEL and AXLE WORKS
The Lehigh Car, Wheel
and Axle Works was formed on or about March 13, 1866 by Charles D. Fuller and
William R. Thomas I, to engage in the manufacture of railroad car wheels. A
tract of land was selected on the line of the Catasauqua and Fogelsville
Railroad west of the "Roundhouse," but, upon further investigation,
it was thought advisable to erect the plant on the main line of the Lehigh
Valley Railroad. This industry was then established on a tract of about eight
acres of land purchased from Jacob Lazarus, which was located between the
Lehigh Valley Railroad and the public road to Allentown, a mile south of the
Biery (Race Street) Bridge. The plant originally had a capacity of fifteen
wheels per day.
In 1868, James W. Fuller
II, along with James H. McKee and others organized the firm of McKee, Fuller
and Company and they became proprietors of the plant, with James W. Fuller II
serving as president of the concern. Within ten years the only remaining
partners were James H. McKee and James W. Fuller II. The company struggled
along with varying success until 1880, when a contract was obtained to supply
the Erie Railroad with eight-wheeled railroad cars. In order to complete this
contract, McKee, Fuller and Company purchased from the National Bank of
Catasauqua the vacant Frederick and Company car shops, which adjoined the south
end of their plant. The plant immediately became busy and at one time the
lumber arrived so fast that every siding was blocked with laden cars between
Allentown and Catasauqua, and for a time fifteen hundred men were employed and
Ferndale (Fullerton) became a thriving village. From this time on the success
of the firm was assured and on February 13, 1883, William W. McKee and Benjamin
Franklin Swartz were admitted to the firm. At about the same time a forge to
forge the axles was added, and the business increased so fast that in the first
six months of 1883 they built, complete, eighteen hundred and forty-nine eight-wheeled
cars. This business amounted to $2,800,000 for the year. The capacity of the
works in 1884 was sufficient to do a business of $4,000,000 per annum. The size
of the plant continued to increase to sixty acres and the buildings extended
along the road for nearly a mile from Ferndale station to Gap Junction. In 1891
the manufacture of cars was abandoned and for a time the business of the plant
was directed toward car-wheels and general castings.
With the death of James
H. McKee on November 5, 1895, the interest of his several heirs was placed on
sale and acquired by the remaining members of the firm. It became a necessity,
owing to the large interests involved, so as to prevent jeopardy to the
interests of the others in case of the death of a remaining partner, to
incorporate the plant. A charter was obtained February 5, 1901, and the
business continued under the name of Lehigh Car, Wheel and Axle Works.
The type of business
changed with the new century and the plant became engaged in manufacturing castings
and crushing machinery, and the "Lehigh Fuller Pulverizing Mills"
used by cement companies. The deaths of William W. McKee occurred on January
28, 1905 and B. Franklin Swartz on April 8, 1909. James W. Fuller III had
entered the employ of the Lehigh Car, Wheel and Axle Works as an apprentice and
he subsequently became a salesman, treasurer, general manager and with the
death of his father, James W. Fuller II on January 15, 1910, president of the
company. Joseph S. Elverson, brother-in-law of James W. Fuller III, served as
secretary and treasurer of the company.
During a reorganization
of the company in 1918 its name was changed to Fuller-Lehigh Company. About
this time the firm purchased the patent for a pneumatic pump developed by
Alonzo C. Kinyon. The pump, used to convey pulverized materials, was marketed
as the Fuller-Kinyon pump, which became standard equipment in cement mills all
over the world. In January, 1926, James W. Fuller III sold the Fuller-Lehigh
Company rights, patents and properties, with the exception of the Kinyon pump
patent, to the Babcock and Wilcox Company for $3,000,000. The Babcock and
Wilcox Company continued to operate the Fuller-Lehigh plant until 1936, when
operations were transferred to Barberton, Ohio.
Until 1854, all the
refractory brick required to line the furnaces and stoves of the local iron
furnaces were imported from Europe or elsewhere in the United States. However
in that year Samuel McHose, the mason who supervised the construction of nearly
all the early furnaces throughout the Lehigh Valley, and Oliver A. Ritter
established a firebrick factory at the foot of Gordon Street in Allentown.
During 1868, Samuel
McHose and Oliver Ritter were joined by David Thomas in starting the Lehigh Fire
Brick Works, in a frame building located at the northwest corner of Spring and
Brick Streets. In 1872 the plant was destroyed by fire and was immediately
replaced by a two story stone structure, with five kilns of large capacity. The
firebricks were manufactured from Woodbridge clay and were produced in every
shape, for all purposes, - furnaces, ovens, arches, linings, jams, boshes,
cupolas, etc.
David Thomas acquired
total control of the business in 1873; he then became associated with his sons,
Samuel and John Thomas, and son-in-law, Joshua Hunt. With the death of David
Thomas on June 20, 1882, the company was incorporated on January 1, 1883, and
Joshua Hunt then served as chairman until his death on July 18, 1886. David
Hunt, son of Joshua Hunt, who had entered the employ of the company in 1879,
then served as supervisor of the plant.
In November, 1885,
Lucius H. McHose, son of Samuel McHose, came to Catasauqua as foreman of the
Lehigh Fire Brick Works and during 1892, in the company of David Hunt, leased
the plant and continued the manufacture of a superior firebrick. David Hunt
passed away on February 24, 1898, and the concern was re-incorporated during
1903, with the same capital, $60,000. Lucius McHose became president of the
firm in 1911 and by 1914 the plant had two kilns in operation, with an annual
production of one and one half million firebrick. The directors and officers of
the company in 1914 were as follows: Lucius H. McHose, President; Charles T.
Evans, Secretary and Treasurer; and D. George Dery, Director. By the early
1920's the local iron furnaces were being shut down one by one and without a
local market for their product the Lehigh Fire Brick Company ceased operations.
The history of the
Bryden Horse Shoe Company begins in 1882, when the firm was organized with
capital of sixty thousand dollars for the purpose of manufacturing horse shoes
under the patents issued to George Bryden, of Hartford, Connecticut. The Bryden
shoe was formed complete under blows of a heavy hammer, whereas all other
machine-made shoes were rolled, and the heel and toe-caulks were then welded on
by the blacksmith.
The company was
organized with Joshua Hunt being president; Oliver Williams, secretary and
treasurer; and P. F. Greenwood, superintendent. A one-story brick building was
erected on the northwest corner of Railroad and Strawberry Streets, and the
plant was equipped with two forge-hammers. About thirty men were employed for
several years and the daily product was from two and one-half to three tons.
The bar-iron was received from the Catasauqua Manufacturing Company, with which
Mr. Williams was prominently identified. During 1884, Oliver Williams was
elevated to the presidency of the firm, while remaining as the treasurer of the
company.
With the passing of
streetcar horses, the company was obliged to seek other outlets for its product
and to do this it became necessary to increase the plant accordingly. In 1888,
this was accomplished and the capital stock was increased to one hundred
thousand dollars. The company purchased land on the west side of Front Street,
straddling the northern boundary of the borough. The land was purchased from
the Faust family, early settlers to the area. A larger plant was erected in
1889 at this site. Jacob Roberts of Poughkeepsie, New York, co-owner of the
Phoenix Horse Shoe Company of that city, was engaged to equip the new plant for
the manufacture of pattern shoes used by the general blacksmith trade. In August
1889, Mr. Roberts severed his connection with the Phoenix Horse Shoe Company
and became superintendent of the Bryden Horse Shoe Company. A rolling mill was
installed at the new plant for the manufacture of bar-iron.
The company continued
with success and enlargements to the plant were made to meet the demands and
the capital of the company was increased to six hundred and twenty-five
thousand dollars. During the Boer War of 1899-1900, the company supplied the
British War Department with about a carload of horse and mule shoes weekly.
Oliver Williams passed
away on September 17, 1904 and he was succeeded by George E. Holton, his
son-inlaw, as president and treasurer. Tilghman F. Frederick continued to serve
as secretary until his death on March 31, 1909, when H. Morley Holton succeeded
him as secretary. Jacob Roberts had passed away on November 18, 1905, and Paul
E. Miller then became General Manager.
On February 10, 1913,
George E. Holton departed this life and his duties as president were taken over
by his widow, Jessica (Williams) Holton. H. Morley Holton then served as both
secretary and treasurer of the company. The plant grew steadily and by 1914 it
occupied about seven acres of ground, and its daily production was from forty
to fifty tons of horseshoes, and about three hundred men were employed by the
company at that time.
In 1928 the Phoenix
Horse Shoe Company of Poughkeepsie re-organized as the Phoenix Manufacturing
Company and a great expansion program went into effect. At that time the
Phoenix Manufacturing Company purchased four other horseshoe companies, one of
which was the Bryden Horse Shoe Company of Catasauqua, which then operated
under the name of Phoenix Manufacturing Company.
During 1939 it was
decided to discontinue the rolling mill at the Catasauqua plant and to convert
the plant into a drop forging plant. The concern continued to grow, that by
1953 it was equipped with twenty-one board hammers, ranging from 1,200 pounds
to 4,000 pounds, a complete die-room and production machine shop and the firm
employed two hundred and seventy-five persons.
In 1957, the Union Tank
Car Company purchased the Phoenix Manufacturing Company, all divisions and
subsidiaries, which included the Catasauqua plant. The Trans Union Company,
successor of the Union Tank Car Company, sold all the Phoenix facilities in
1971, except the Catasauqua plant, which was then renamed the Phoenix Forging
Company. The Trans Union Company continued to improve the plant. Two large
6-station, 5-die cold heading machines, capable of progressively forming parts
from coil stock, were installed. The old wooden southern end of the shop had
fallen into disrepair over the years and was finally raised in 1977, and a new
modern metal structure was erected in its place.
In 1981, the Marmon
Group, Inc. purchased Trans Union Company and with it, the Phoenix Forging
Company. After a long and bitter strike the plant was sold to Barco Industries
of Reading in 1985. The company's operations were then under Oven W. Blum,
president; John Rodgers, vice-president and secretary-treasurer; and Larry
Dildine, vice-president of operations.
The Globe Metal Works
was established at Fullerton by Clinton H. Fuller in 1883. Three large
buildings were erected and the business engaged in scrap-iron, buying up second
hand boilers, engines, etc. Orange M. Fuller, brother of Clinton Fuller, became
a partner in the firm for a period of two years after which Clinton H. Fuller
assumed control of the entire business.
In 1889 the Fullerton
plant was disposed of and the firm removed to Catasauqua were Clinton H. Fuller
with his brother, Abbott Fuller, established a successful furnace. The plant
was located on Race Street, between the canal and the Lehigh River. The plant
was fitted out with five furnaces, operated by electric motors. The company
produced Globe bronze and Viola and Crane Anti-Friction Metal.
Abbott Fuller sold his
interest in the firm during 1890 to Clinton H. Fuller, who conducted a
profitable
business until 1900,
when a fire destroyed the entire plant.
In 1893, Robert J.
McIntyre leased the foundry of the Crane Iron Works, which was situated at the
foot of Willow Street along the canal. The foundry produced all kinds of
rolling-mill, furnace, and architectural castings, besides filling orders from
the Crane Iron Works. After three years he closed the foundry and removed to
Allentown.
Robert J. McIntyre had
previously been a foreman at the New York City Iron Works and he had also
served as superintendent of the Union Foundry and Machine Company at
Catasauqua.
On March 13, 1899, the
Empire Steel and Iron Company received a charter in the State of New Jersey.
The formation of the company was mainly through the efforts of Leonard Peckitt,
who was elected president, and within one year of its organization, the Empire
Steel and Iron Company had acquired control of the Crane Iron Works at
Catasauqua, Pennsylvania; the Macungie Furnace, Macungie, Pennsylvania, which
was operated until 1913 and briefly reactivated in 1917-1918; the Henry Clay
Furnace, Reading, Pennsylvania, operated until 1913; the Topton Furnace,
Topton, Pennsylvania; Nittany Furnace, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania; the Oxford
Furnace, Oxford, New Jersey, operated until 1921; the Gem Furnace, Shenandoah, Virginia;
the Victoria Furnace, Goshen, Virginia; and the Cherokee Furnace, Greensboro,
North Carolina. The combined annual capacity of these furnaces was 378,000
gross tons. The southern furnaces were retained for only a few years, and the
Allentown Iron Company was operated under the management of the Crane Iron
Works of the Empire Steel and Iron Company from 1900 to 1904.
In 1899, the company
purchased the Mount Hope Mining Company, consisting of a 1,700-acre tract with
magnetic ore mines and a concentrating plant, with an annual capacity of
225,000 tons. The company also controlled the Mount Hope Mineral Railroad
Company, a 4-1/2 mile line, which connected with the Central Railroad of New
Jersey and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad at Wharton, New
Jersey. Twenty-five hundred acres of iron-ore land at Oxford, New Jersey and
mineral rights on another 8,000 acres, and the Victoria Coal and Coke Company,
which owned 1,500 acres of coal lands and 135 beehive coke ovens at Caperton,
West Virginia, were also controlled by the Empire Steel and Iron Company.
The General Offices of
the Empire Steel and Iron Company were maintained at New York City until June
1, 1900, when they were removed to Catasauqua. In 1908, the company erected a
three-story brick office building at 124 Bridge Street at the cost of twenty
thousand dollars. In April of 1922 the Empire Steel and Iron Company was
acquired by the Replogle Steel Company, which was the predecessor of the Warren
Foundry and Pipe Corporation.
On January 1, 1904, J.
Arthur Williams embarked in the business of manufacturing high-grade brass,
bronze, copper and machine castings, including a line of trolley wheels. He
first leased the foundry of the Crane Iron Works, located at the foot of Willow
Street, and conducted the business there for three years; then in 1907 he
leased the northern part of the abandoned Johnson Steel Mill, located on the
West Side, a short distance south of the Race Street Bridge. The plant was
operated by J. Arthur Williams until his death on May 12, 1934.
The Union Foundry and
Machine Company plant, located on Race Street, between the canal and the Lehigh
River, remained idle for two years when a new operation was effected there in
1907, which was called the Catasauqua Casting Company. The plant was placed
under the management of Frederick Conlin and it manufactured all kinds of
castings. Richard O. Kohler, son-in-law of Oliver Williams, was prominently
identified with the undertaking as the chief executive officer. The company
continued in operation until 1912, when it suspended all operations.
With the sale of the
Fuller-Lehigh Company in January 1926 to the Babcock and Wilcox Company, James
W. Fuller III remained with the later as chairman of the board for a few
months. He then resigned and on March 11, 1926, he incorporated the Fuller
Company to handle the Fuller-Kinyon pump system for conveying pulverized
materials. As president of the company, James W. Fuller III purchased the
former offices of the Empire Steel and Iron Company, at 124 Bridge Street. The
general offices and an engineering department were established there and also
the executive offices of the Allentown Portland Cement Company were then transferred
to the building.
The officers of the
company in 1926 were: President, Colonel James W. Fuller III; Vice President,
Alfred E. Douglass, Sr.; Treasurer, Ralph S. Weaver; Secretary, Earl A. Jones;
with the Board of Directors as follows: James W. Fuller III, Alfred E.
Douglass, Sr., Ralph S. Weaver, and James W. Fuller IV. The General Manager was
also Alfred E. Douglass, Sr.; with Peter F. Stauffer serving as Sales Manager;
Joseph H. Morrow, Chief Engineer; George Kemp Engelhart, Engineer and Patent
Attorney; Irvin Cressman, Purchasing Agent; Stanley Danner, Bookkeeper; Richard
Howell, Engineer and Salesman; Jose Alonzo, Engineer and Salesman; Herbert
Lenhart, Research; Edward McNabb, Office Manager; Warren Greene, Carl Mark and
Rollin McKeever, Draftsmen.
In 1928 the firm
experimented with a "baby buggy," a hand operated portable unloader
of bulk cement. Through a series of improvements, the firm designed a buggy
that could be operated by a control wand.
With the death of
Colonel James W. Fuller III in San Francisco on April 4, 1929, Alfred E.
Douglass, Sr., assumed the position of president of the company. The stock of
the company was then divided between the Colonel's two sons, with James W.
Fuller IV receiving sixty percent of the company and Charlton Thomas Fuller
receiving forty percent of the stock upon reaching the age of twenty-seven.
Prior the Colonel Fuller's death he had purchased the building then being used
by the post office, northeast corner of Bridge and Railroad Streets, and in
September, 1929 the company moved into the third floor of the building and by
1935 they occupied the entire building.
In 1929 Fuller Company
acquired the Guarantee Construction Company of New York, the manufacturers of
the "Airveyor," a high velocity suspension-type pneumatic conveyor,
and in 1931, Fuller Company purchased the rights to the French multi-vane
rotary design compressor. The Breerwood process was marketed in 1934. This
process allowed the manufacture of cement from inferior limestone and silicious
material.
The rights for what
became the Fuller-Fluxo System were acquired in 1935 from the F. L. Smidth
Company. This system was used as a substitute for the Fuller-Kinyon system when
conveying cement and abrasive materials over great distances.
The Fuller Company
established a small machine shop in a portion of the Lynch and Dugan Garage,
located at the southwest corner of Pine and Railroad Streets, in October 1936.
The one-man shop was used for the company's first in house production. In June
of 1939, Fuller Company purchased ten acres along the west side of Front
Street, at the site of the former Crane Iron Works, then owned by the Borough
of Catasauqua. The research, machine, carpentry and electrical shops were set
up in three buildings of the former Crane Iron Works.
In November 1939 the
president's position passed to James W. Fuller IV, with Alfred E. Douglass, Sr.
becoming chairman of the Executive Committee. By 1945 the company's demand for
plate work was so great Fuller Company erected its own plate shop along Front
Street, which had an original work force of twenty-two men. Business continued
to increase and in 1946 Fuller Company purchased the Manheim plant. By 1951,
after twenty-five years of existence, Fuller Company was a leading supplier of
pneumatic conveying equipment to the cement industry. The company employed
approximately 800 people and had annual sales of approximately $8,000,000. The
firm had offices in Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Fuller Company was sold
by James W. Fuller IV and C. Thomas Fuller to General American Transportation
Corporation (GATX) in August of 1954, and the officers of the company at that
time were: James W. Fuller IV, President; C. Thomas Fuller, Vice-President;
Alfred E. Douglass, Sr., Chairman of the Executive Committee; Joseph H. Morrow,
Vice-President in Charge of Engineering; George Kemp Engelhart, Vice-President
in Charge of Sales; Channing O. Davis, General Manager; Harold C. Wolbach,
Treasurer; and Alvin S. Heffelfinger, Secretary.
Alfred E. Douglass, Sr.
was re-named president and he continued to serve in this capacity until January
1957. A new engineering building was erected at the corner of Front and Willow
Streets, which enabled the consolidation of eight engineering groups. During
this time Traylor Engineering and Manufacturing Company of Allentown was
purchased by Fuller Company. With the retirement of Alfred E. Douglass, Sr. in 1957,
Channing O. Davis was elected president of the firm.
In 1965, GATX built a
two-story office building at 118 Bridge Street, naming it Building No. 3 and in
1966 Building No. 1 (Empire Steel and Iron Company) and No. 2 (old post office)
were given facelifts to resemble the new structure.
Harlan J. Thompson
succeeded Channing O. Davis as president of Fuller Company in January 1967, and
he served as such until February 1972. Mr. Thompson was followed by Frank W.
Homer, who served until 1977; Kenneth A. Krick, 1977-1982; and Elmer D. Gates,
1982-1990.
With increasing demands
for office space, Fuller Company headquarters were moved to new facilities in
the Lehigh Valley Industrial Park I, Bethlehem, during 1976.
In 1986 a Fuller
management group led by Fuller Company president Elmer D. Gates and a New York
investor, Eli S. Jacobs, purchased Fuller Company from General American
Transportation Corporation. After four years of operations, they sold the
company in 1990 to the F. L. Smidth Company, then owned by FLS Industries A/S
of Denmark.
GRAVER TANK
and MANUFACTURING COMPANY
The Graver Tank and
Manufacturing Company Inc. of East Chicago, Indiana, started a plant at
Catasauqua in 1933. The original Graver operations were started in 1858 by
William Graver, in Allegheny, for the fabrication and erection of tanks for
storing petroleum products. Operations were subsequently moved to the Chicago
area.
The Eastern division
with plant and headquarters at Catasauqua operated at the site of the former
Lehigh Fire Brick Company, northwest corner of Spring and Brick Streets.
The local plant
manufactured tanks ranging in size from five hundred and fifty gallon storage
capacity to large field tanks over six million gallon storage capacity. The
large tanks were shipped and erected and welded in the field by crews of
workmen in a territory extending from Maine to Florida.
The work force at the
Catasauqua shop consisted of about one hundred and thirty employees and was
under the supervision of F. H. Burchfield. Graver Tank and Manufacturing
Company closed the Catasauqua plant during 1956 and moved the operations to
Edgemoor, Delaware.
In October, 1939 Frederick
J. Walker and Milton O. Knauss, then secretary and manager, respectively, of
the Davies and Thomas Company, with some out-of-state interests, formed the
Catasauqua Machine Corporation, with S. M. Rutledge, of the George H. Flinn
Corporation of New York, as president; Milton O. Knauss, vice-president; and
Frederick J. Walker, secretary and treasurer.
The machine shop of the
Davies and Thomas Company was leased, and the firm proceeded to do jobbing machine
work, including the manufacture of complete assemblies from material furnished
by the customers, along with the normal repairs and maintenance requirements of
the Davies and Thomas Company.
In 1943, Frederick J.
Walker and Milton O. Knauss purchased all of the outstanding stock and
continued the business as a partnership under the title of Catasauqua Machine
Works. During October 1950 all physical assets were sold and the business
liquidated.
LEHIGH COAL and NAVIGATION
COMPANY
The navigation of the
Lehigh River was a subject of discussion for many years, and as early as March
9, 1771, an act was passed declaring it a common highway and appointing
commissioners to improve the navigation of the stream. Other acts were passed
in 1791 and 1794, and on February 27, 1798, an act was passed appointing
William Tilghman, Godfrey Haga, and John M. Taylor, of Philadelphia; John
Barnet, Joseph Horsefield, and Nicholas Kern, of Northampton County; and
Matthais Hollenbach, Rosewell Welles, and Lord Butler, of Luzerne County,
commissioners, who were authorized to receive subscriptions for stock, at $100
a share, in the Lehigh Navigation Company and also authorizing the sum of
$10,000 to be raised by a lottery, the proceeds to be employed in the
improvement of the river.
The Lehigh Coal Mine
Company had been organized February 13, 1792, by Col. Jacob Weiss, Michael
Hillegass, Charles Cist, William Henry, and others and secured about 10,000
acres of land, the greater part containing coal deposits. Owing to the
difficulties of transporting the coal, the mines remained neglected until 1806,
when William Turnbull constructed an "ark" (a rough timber boat, 16
feet wide and 20 feet long) in which he conveyed two or three hundred bushels
of anthracite coal to Philadelphia. Boats of this pattern, somewhat larger,
were afterwards made to carry on the business, and continued in use until 1831.
Josiah White, who, with
Erskine Hazzard and George F. A. Hauto, had secured a twenty-year lease from the
Lehigh Coal Mine Company, at an annual rental of one ear of corn, had a new act
passed authorizing them to improve the navigation of the river, and organized
on the 10th of August, 1818, the Lehigh Navigation Company. On October 21,
1818, the Lehigh Coal Company was formed and on April 21, 1820, the two
companies were consolidated under the name of the Lehigh Navigation and Coal
Company. By an Act of Assembly passed February 13, 1822, the company was
incorporated as the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company.
"Bear trap"
dams were designed and built by Josiah White and in 1819 twelve of these dams
and sluices were built. The "Bear trap" dams were built to form pools
of water, and when the water overflowed them long enough to fill the river-bed
below to its ordinary flow, the "sluice-gates" were let down and the
current thus created would move the "arks", collected in the pool,
down the artificial flood to the next "Bear trap" dam. After the
incorporation of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, they were empowered to
commence a slack water navigation upon the Lehigh River within a year from the
dated of the act.
On January 27, 1827, the
same year in which operations were begun on the canal, a railroad was
constructed, nine miles in length, from the mines at Summit Hill to Mauch
Chunk, on a wagon road laid out in 1819. The elevation of Summit Hill was 936
feet and the cars of coal descended by gravity. Mules rode down with the coal
and brought the empty cars to the mine, the trip taking three hours. In 1845, a
back track was completed for returning the cars, known as the famous
"Switchback Railroad."
Work on the canal was
commenced during the summer of 1827 with thirteen hands, under the direction of
Canvass White, at the mouth of the Nesquehoning Creek; which number soon
increased to seventy, and afterwards to many more. Two scows (14 by 35 feet)
were rigged for lodging and feeding the men; one was built for the manager's
counting-house, store-house, and dwelling; and another for a kitchen and
bakery. As work was finished on the way down the stream, these four scows were
floated down from point to point. The construction of the canal was made while
the country north of Lehigh Gap was still a wilderness and the working people
came from many different nations. Payments were made by check so as not to
encourage violence. The work was completed to Easton in 1829, a total distance
of 46 miles; the ditch was approximately five feet deep, 60 feet wide at the
top and 45 feet wide at the bottom. There were 44 lift locks and 8 guard locks
located at the eight dams that were erected. On account of the heavy grade in
the course of the river, Catasaauqua had to be well locked. Swartz's
(Hokendauqua) Dam and a guard lock placed north of the borough line and eight-tenths
of a mile south was the Catasauqua Lock (No. 36), with a lift of 7.4 feet.
"Rohn's" or "Koehler's" Lock (No. 37) laid one and three
tenths of a mile south of the Catasauqua Lock. This lock also had a lift of
seven and four tenth feet.
On June 26, 1829, a gate
was opened and water from the Lehigh River flowed into the last leg of the
Lehigh Canal, completing the entire length from Mauch Chunk to Easton. The next
afternoon at Easton, the packet boat "Swan" made its first trip, a three-mile
excursion up the canal. On June 29th, the first boats arrived at Easton loaded
with anthracite coal. By the end of July, the "Swan" and
"Independence" were making scheduled runs from Easton to Mauch Chunk.
The first excursion to Biery's Port was on an "Ark" run from
Allentown, June 26, 1829. The "Ark" was decorated with U. S. flags
and it was drawn by two horses. Eleven year old, Clarissa Miller, daughter of
Henry Miller and future wife of James W. Fuller I, was one of the members of
that merry party.
In 1835, the Lehigh Coal
and Navigation Company decided to extend the canal 26 miles north from Mauch
Chunk to White Haven. To accomplish this, Edwin A. Douglass built 29 locks and
20 dams and the work was completed in 1838. The upper division of the canal was
in operation until the flood of June 4th and 5th, 1862 destroyed many of the
locks and dams.
A double canal was
maintained at Catasauqua because of the amount of canal-boat traffic caused by
the operations of the Crane Iron Works' furnaces. Opened in 1839 the second
canal ran from just south of the guard lock at Swartz's (Hokendauqua) Dam to
the Catasauqua Lock (No. 36), by the furnaces. This canal remained open for a
number of years, but with the iron company relying more on the local railroads
for transportation the canal was filled in near the end of the nineteenth
century, and in 1905 the Crane Railroad Company extended their tracks north,
over the filled in canal, to connect with the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
From 1845 to 1865 two
boat yards were maintained for building and repairing purposes at Catasauqua.
Bogh Brothers was located just above Spring Street (below the Phoenix Forging
Company) and Ginder and Rehig conducted their business at the bottom of Willow
Street.
Although by the 1920's
the railroads had gradually taken the canal's place in local transportation,
the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company continued to operate the canal until the
autumn of 1931. Short sections of the canal continued to operate between
Laury's Station and Easton, until the flood of 1942, which washed away
buildings and canal boats, and put to an end the commercial life of the canal.
The local section of the
canal was used by the residents for fishing, ice-skating and other recreation
throughout the 1940's and 1950's. In 1962, the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company
began selling its assets and in 1964, Edwin H. Koons purchased the Catasauqua
section of the canal and it then fell into disuse.
A plant railroad was
established on the property of the Crane Iron Works in the late 1840's for the
purpose of transporting iron ore, limestone, coal, slag, etc. to and from their
furnaces. The company operated both standard and narrow gauge railroads and in
December 1904, the Crane Iron Works maintained a roster of seven steam engines,
four standard and three narrow-gauge.
Over the years the Crane
Iron Works continued to expand their trackage, which included a narrow gauge
line running along the tracks of the Central Railroad of New Jersey to a slag
bank south of the borough in Hanover Township, between the canal and the Lehigh
River. An engine-house was erected at the southwest corner of Front and Bridge
Streets for the maintenance of their engines. During 1857, the Crane Iron
Company Bridge was reinforced and strengthened in order to carry the company's
locomotive, "The Hercules", and the ore-cars brought in by the
Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad. In 1904, the company removed the old
wooden covered bridge and erected a new plate girder bridge, capable of
supporting the weightiest and most massive rolling stock.
In order to extend
certain tracks the Crane Iron Works applied for a charter for the Crane
Railroad Company, July 28, 1905. Tracks were then extended northward along the
course of the canal until they connected with the Central Railroad of New
Jersey.
The company then decided
to extend their tracks eastward into Kurtz Valley for the purpose of
establishing a cinder dump. In November 1909, the Borough Council of Catasauqua
approved the company's request to construct a tunnel from the west side of
Second Street, behind the company homes on Wood Street, to the east side of
Howertown Road. Rights-of-way were purchased and construction began on March
21, 1910. The tunnel was actually dug out forming a cut and a concrete arched
liner was put in place and filled over. The tunnel was completed by November
1910 and on March 11, 1911 a spur
was completed from the Davies and Thomas Company to the Crane Railroad tracks
east of the tunnel near the cinder dump. The Crane Railroad Company then had a
total trackage of 3.31 miles.
The Lehigh and New
England Railroad Company, which was owned by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
Company, announced in May, 1913, plans to build a spur from their branch line,
which ran from Bender's Junction, by way of Bath, to Bethlehem. Work commenced
on June 1, 1913 and the last spike was driven in on March 14, 1914, connecting
the Lehigh and New England Railroad with the Crane Railroad at the east end of
the borough. On Monday, March 23, 1914, the spur was formally opened when
officials of the Crane Railroad Company and the Lehigh and New England Railroad
Company entered town in a special train.
The Crane Railroad was
purchased by the Lehigh and New England Railroad Company in July 1914, and on
December 1, 1914, full control of all the Crane Railroad's tracks, rolling
stock and assets were assumed by the Lehigh and New England Railroad, which
renamed the line the Catasauqua Branch. A freight station for this line was
built on the southwest corner of Front and Pine Streets in 1916.
The Lehigh and New
England Railroad ceased to service Catasauqua in October 1961, when the freight
station was closed. The tracks coming into the borough were removed shortly
afterward and in 1964 the tunnel was sealed at both ends.
The first railroad to
arrive at Catasauqua was the Lehigh Valley Railroad, which lay on the west side
of the Lehigh River.
The Lehigh Valley
Railroad was originally incorporated under the name of the Delaware, Lehigh,
Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad Company, by an Act passed by the
legislature of Pennsylvania on April 21, 1846. The Act was passed against a
strong and determined opposition, and the commissioners named in the Act were:
William Edelman, Casper Kleckner, George Probst, Stephen Balliet, John D.
Bauman, Thomas Craig, Henry King, Benjamin Ludwig, Christian Pretz, Peter
Huber, James M. Porter, Peter S. Michier and Abraham Miller. These
commissioners advertised for subscriptions of stock on June 2, 1846, but it was
not until August 2, 1847, that a sufficient amount could be secured, with 5,002
shares subscribed at five dollars per share.
The letters patent were
issued September 20, 1847, and the election of officers was held on October 21,
1847, with James M. Porter Esq. elected president.
During the fall of 1850
the first survey was made by Roswell B. Mason along the Lehigh River from
Easton to the Mahoning Creek. Work began on March 10, 1851 on the first sixteen
miles from the Delaware River to a point near Allentown, under the direction of
Dr. Jesse Samuels, civil engineer, of Allentown.
On April 4, 1851, Asa
Packer became identified with the enterprise, and during the following October
he secured a large amount of the original stock and inaugurated earnest movements
towards the construction of the road. A year afterward Mr. Packer submitted a
proposition to build that portion from Mauch Chunk to Easton for a certain
price to be paid in bonds and stocks of the company, which was accepted; and
about that time Robert H. Sayre was appointed chief engineer. On January 7,
1853, the name of the company was changed to the Lehigh Valley Railroad
Company. The construction of the railroad was completed by September 24, 1855,
and then it was accepted by the company from the contractor, Asa Packer.
In the fall of 1855, a
locomotive, known as the "General Wall", with one car attached,
conveyed a contingent of entrepreneurs from the coal and iron industries and
also members of the financial market as far as the Crane Iron Company Bridge.
An impromptu parade was formed and the march made across the bridge to the
Eagle Hotel (northeast corner of Front and Bridge Streets). After a dinner at
the Eagle, the party proceeded to Hokendauqua to view the furnaces of the
Thomas Iron Company, which were just erected.
The Lehigh Valley
Railroad located their station between its track and the Lehigh River, just
north of the Crane Iron Company Bridge. A new station was built during 1906 and
was completed in May 1907. This served as both a freight and passenger station
until June 30, 1933, when the Lehigh Valley Railroad discontinued the agency at
Catasauqua; the waiting room remained open for several years, but no trains
stopped regularly, and the station was finally torn down in the fall of 1941.
In May, 1904, the Lehigh Valley Railroad began conducting freight business on
the east side of the river, on the Crane Railroad sidings near Front and Bridge
Streets and in December, 1904, they opened a freight office at that location,
which was they conducted for approximately ten years.
The Lehigh Valley
Railroad built what was known as Biery yard about 1911, which was located on
the site of one of the Thomas Iron Company's cinder dumps, perpendicular to
their main line, along the north side of the Coplay Creek, lying beside the
tracks of the Ironton Railroad.
The Lehigh Valley
Railroad continued to operated on the west side of the river and in 1972 they
acquired the main line of the Central Railroad of New Jersey in Pennsylvania.
With the formation of Conrail the Lehigh Valley Railroad passed into history.
CATASAUQUA
and FOGELSYILLE RAILROAD
The Catasauqua and
Fogelsville Railroad Company was the second railroad to transverse Lehigh
County. The application for a charter was presented to the Legislature by James
W. Fuller I, who had been engaged by David Thomas, acting for the Lehigh Crane
Iron Company and the Thomas Iron Company. His efforts were met with intense
opposition and indignation. The efforts of the "Black Republicans"
were bitterly denounced and it was claimed that a railroad would cut up and
destroy the beautiful farming districts of the Jordan Valley.
By perseverance and tact
Mr. Fuller succeeded at last in securing a charter, for construction of a plank
road, on April 5, 1853. After prolonged efforts, the railroad charter was
secured on April 20, 1854, and in 1856 the Act was amended, allowing the
railroad to be extended into Berks County.
Construction of the
railroad began in the summer of 1856. The route was laid out by Lansford F.
Chapman and his brother, Charles W. Chapman. The railroad's first terminus was
at Chapman's, eight and one-half miles from Catasauqua, which had been named
after the brothers and the line was opened on July 14, 1857.
The erection of the
"Iron Bridge" was necessitated at the crossing of the Jordan Creek by
the length and depth of the Jordan Creek valley. The extreme length of the
"Iron Bridge" was 1,165 feet. The iron superstructure was 1,100 feet
in length, consisting of eleven spans of 100 feet each, with a height of 104
feet above the bed of the creek.
The Catasauqua and
Fogelsville Railroad erected their Catasauqua station directly across the
tracks from the Lehigh Valley Railroad station, on the west side of the Lehigh
River.
In 1860, the tracks of
the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad reached Trexlertown and the line
arrived at Alburtis in 1864, connecting with the East Penn Railroad. The
railroad continued to Rittenhouse Gap in Berks County, a total length of 17
miles; sixteen miles, of which, were in Lehigh County.
A small barn-like
round-house and a shop were erected above the entrance of Fairview Cemetery and
a railroad yard was maintained west of Water Street and south of Eberhard Road.
On November 29, 1875,
Charles W. Chapman, superintendent and engineer of the Catasauqua and
Fogelsville Railroad, announced that passenger trains on this line would run in
connection with the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Catasauqua and the East Penn
Railroad at Alburtis.
The morning train
departed Catasauqua at 7:00 A.M., with the arrival of the Lehigh Valley
Railroad local passenger train from Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown; arriving
at Alburtis at 8:05 A.M., by way of Seiple's, Jordan Bridge, Guth's, Walberts,
Chapman's, Trexlertown, and Spring Creek, connecting with the East Penn
Railroad train for Reading, Pottstown, Harrisburg, and also a train for
Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and New York City.
The morning train east
departed Alburtis at 9:21 A.M., after connecting with the East Penn Railroad
train from Allentown, and arrived at Catasauqua, 10:36 A.M., connecting with
trains on the Lehigh Valley Railroad for Mauch Chunk, Wilkes-Barre and
Scranton, and also Philadelphia and New York City.
The afternoon train
departed Catasauqua at 1:15 P.M. and arrived at Alburtis at 2:30 P.M.,
connecting with a train on the East Penn Railroad, and an evening train
departed Alburtis at 5:03 P.M., with the arrival of a train from Allentown and
a train from Reading, and arrived at Catasauqua at 5:58 P.M., connecting with a
local passenger train on the Lehigh Valley Railroad headed for Allentown,
Bethlehem and Easton.
In November 1890, the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, which in 1869 had leased the Eastern
Pennsylvania Railroad, better known as the East Penn Railroad, secured the
sixty percent of the stock of the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad that had
been owned by the Crane Iron Company. The other forty percent of the stock was
owned by the Thomas Iron Company. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
expanded the railroad yard at Catasauqua in 1910, located south of Eberhard
Road.
The "Iron
Bridge" would begin to create weight restriction problems near the turn of
the century and during the World War I era the Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad would fill over the structure with slag from the furnaces, in a
project that took several years to accomplish.
In 1952, with the
erection of the new Pine Street Bridge the old railroad station was moved over
along the Reading yard, by the entrance of Fairview Cemetery.
On May 8, 1959, the
Reading Railroad operated a special school trip for the students of Catasauqua.
An old steam engine and several old styled cars were used to transport about
550 students and chaperons to Hershey, Pennsylvania. Leaving from the Reading yard
the train traveled on the old Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad line to
Alburtis, where it connected with the East Penn line of the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad to Hershey.
The Ironton Railroad was
formed in 1859 for the construction of a railroad from Hokendauqua and Coplay
to Ironton. The Thomas Iron Company, the main backers of this venture,
contracted with Tinsley Jeter and his associates to build the railroad.
A charter was obtained
on March 4, 1859 and Eli Saeger was elected president of the company. The
grading of the roadbed was commenced at Ironton on August 2, 1859. In spite of
a sever winter, the road was thoroughly blasted by spring; and the first
trainload of cars passed over it on May 24, 1860.
Just west of Stiles the
railroad forked, with one leg going to Coplay and the other following the
Coplay Creek toward West Catasauqua, where it connected with the Catasauqua and
Fogelsville Railroad near Eberhard Road. The main track of the Ironton Railroad
continued along the creek to Water Street, there it headed north behind Dark
Town to the furnaces of the Thomas Iron Company, where it then connected with
the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
A three-mile branch was
established in 1861 from the main line near Ironton to Siegersville and
Orefield. This branch was in use until the end of the nineteenth century, when
the mining operations in that area were discontinued.
The entire capital stock
of the Ironton Railroad was purchased by the Thomas Iron Company on February 1,
1882. In 1884, the first of the ten large cement plants was established along
this railroad. For many years, this railroad was the most profitable of any in
the world in proportion to length and investment. Passenger service was
established on November 1, 1898 and continued for some time. In 1922, the
Thomas Iron Company's stock was purchased by Drexel and Company, and they
subsequently sold the railroad stock to the Lehigh Valley Railroad, Central
Railroad of New Jersey, and the Reading Railroad.
LEHIGH
and SUSQUEHANNA RAILROAD
The destructive flood of
June 1862 along the Lehigh River and the great damage to the canal of the
Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company led to the construction of the Lehigh and
Susquehanna Railroad. A charter was granted on March 4, 1863, to the Lehigh
Coal and Navigation Company for the purpose of building a railroad from White
Haven to Mauch Chunk in lieu of rebuilding the damaged locks and dams along
this leg of the canal. In 1864, an Act was passed authorizing the railroad to
be extended from Mauch Chunk to Easton, there to connect with the Central
Railroad of New Jersey.
Accordingly, this
railroad was built along the east bank of the Lehigh River in 1867 and was
operated by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company until 1871, when a lease was
secured by the Central Railroad of New Jersey for nine hundred and ninety-nine
years.
The Central Railroad of
New Jersey operated a station between the canal and the Lehigh River, just
north of the Crane Iron Company Bridge. This served as a freight agency and
passenger station. Access to this station could be made across the canal
bridge, by the Crane Iron Works and after the erection of both the old and new
Pine Street bridges, by steps coming down from the bridges. Passenger business
formally ended in 1948 and the freight agency ceased to operate in 1952. The
depot was dismantled during the later part of 1955 and the early part of 1956.
In 1892, the Central
Railroad of New Jersey built a short spur from just below the Race Street,
running east and slightly northward along the Catasauqua Creek, reaching the
Davies and Thomas Company. The Central Railroad of New Jersey also maintained a
small railroad yard, between Race Street and the Crane Iron Company Bridge.
During 1972, the Lehigh Valley Railroad acquired the Central Railroad of New
Jersey's main line in Pennsylvania.
PART
FOUR --
BIOGRAPHICAL and GENEALOGICAL RECORD
Horace Boyd, son of
Alexander Reed Boyd, was born at Catasauqua on August 31, 1862. The father,
Alexander R. Boyd, son of Copeland Boyd, was born in Goshenhoppen, Montgomery
County in 1826. He accepted a clerkship with the Lehigh Crane Iron Works and
for upward of a quarter of a century he filled various important and
responsible positions with this company. He left the employ of the Crane Iron
Works to become treasurer of the Chestnut Hill Iron Company at Columbia,
Lancaster County. He then removed to Hellertown and was employed by the Thomas
Iron Company at their Saucon furnaces as an accountant, and in this capacity he
continued until his death in 1889. While residing at Catasauqua he served as
borough treasurer for a number of years, and he was also a member of the First
Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua and his political affiliations were with the
Republican Party. Alexander R. Boyd married Mary Louise Fuehrer, daughter of
Henry Fuehrer, and this union was blessed with three children: Ellen Dale
(Ella), born June 26, 1856, married Edwin Thomas, died July 25, 1932; Horace,
of further mention; and Mary L., married Edward L. Tait, of Easton.
Horace Boyd attended the
public schools of Catasauqua, graduating from high school in 1879. His business
career commenced at the age of seventeen, when he entered the carpenter shop at
the Lock Ridge Furnace. Later he worked at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and he
then removed to Columbia, Pennsylvania, and became connected with the Chestnut
Hill Iron Company, working as a master mechanic. On December 13, 1884, the
Thomas Iron Company acquired the Saucon Iron Company at Hellertown, and they
appointed Horace Boyd superintendent of the plant. On October 1, 1890 he
resigned the superintendency and removed to Coplay, where he became general
manager of the Coplay Iron Company and there he remained until the plant was
liquidated. On July 1, 1895 he returned as superintendent of the Saucon
furnaces of the Thomas Iron Company and he remained there until March 3, 1903,
when he was transferred to the Hokendauqua plant and made manager. In 1908,
Horace Boyd became general superintendent of the Thomas Iron Company, and he
continued in that position until 1913, when he retired. In his latter years he
was associated with Dr. H. D. Heller in a stone quarry business. He was also
affiliated with Burkner and Howard Knecht in the Percarrio Coal Company, and he
was president of the Greenwich Manufacturing Company at Lenhartsville.
On October 18, 1887,
Horace Boyd was united in marriage with Miss Emma E. Diehl, daughter of Joseph
and Mary (Weaver) Diehl, of Hellertown, and a daughter, Marion, blessed this
union. Horace Boyd was a member of Porter Lodge No. 284, F. and A. M., of
Catasauqua and in political opinions he was a loyal advocate of Republican
principles. He was a member of the Salem Lutheran Church, Bethlehem. Horace
Boyd died at his home, 447 East North Street, Bethlehem, on January 16, 1955.
Emma (Diehl) Boyd had passed away in April, 1942 and their daughter, Marion
Boyd died in 1943.
A native of Carbon County, Charles W. Chapman was born in Mauch Chunk, June 29, 1836, being the son of Joseph H. and Martha (Wooley) Chapman. The father was born in 1807, being a native of New London, Connecticut, and after learning the carpenter's trade in his youth he settled in Pennsylvania
46
and found employment with the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
Company and later he served as superintendent of
the Canal Department at Mauch Chunk, which position
he held at the time of his death, in 1889, at the
age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Martha Chapman being
from Philadelphia, and of English descent, died
in 1887, at the age of sixty-nine years. Of their
five children, the eldest Major Lansford F., a civil
engineer, enlisted as Captain of Co. E, 28th Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry, was promoted to be Major of
the Regiment, and was killed May 3, 1863, at the
battle of Chancellorsville; Mary, married Butler
Worthington, removed to Des Moines, Iowa; Willard,
killed by falling off a train on the Catasauqua
and Fogelsville Railroad; Grace, the youngest, married
John S. Shaffer, resided at Homestead, Pennsylvania.
Charles W. Chapman was
reared at Mauch Chunk, and obtained his primary education in the schools of his
native city. In 1853-1854, when the Lehigh Valley Railroad was being
constructed through the valley Lansford F. Chapman was in charge of a corps of
engineers, and Charles W. Chapman entered the employ of the same company,
learning surveying. During this period he gained a practical knowledge of
railroad construction. When the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad was
projected in 1856, he and his elder brother laid out the route. After the
railroad was completed to its first terminus at Chapman, named in their honor,
they opened a lumber and grain business there, which they continued for about
one year. In the year 1858 he went on the survey of the Northern Pennsylvania
and Delaware Railroad line from Freemansburg to Delaware Water Gap, by way of
Easton. In 1859, Charles W. Chapman accompanied contractor Robert McIntyre to
Washington, D. C., and did the engineering work on the Cabin John Viaduct, which
carried the water supply over the Potomac, to the Capital. This stone-arch
structure was the largest of its kind erected in the world at that time. In
1860 he returned to Mauch Chunk and entered the employ of the Lehigh Coal and
Navigation Company, and in the fall of 1865, he went with the engineering corps
to Broad Top, Huntingdon County, as superintendent of the Broad Top Coal and
Iron Company, and in the two following years he opened up several mines. In July
1867, coming to Catasauqua, he was made superintendent of the Catasauqua and
Fogelsville Railroad and he continued as such until his death.
On November 13, 1860,
Charles W. Chapman was married to Miss Annie Philips, daughter of William
Philips of Catasauqua. They were blessed with two sons: Lansford Foster, born
February 2, 1866, died December 25, 1943; and Edwin, born May 9, 1869, died
December 20, 1946.
Charles W. Chapman
enlisted in Co. E, 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, being mustered in at
Philadelphia as Second Lieutenant on July 6, 1861. He was promoted to First
Lieutenant February 1, 1863, and mustered out at Atlanta on July 30, 1864.
In politics Mr. Chapman
was a conservative Republican and he served as Borough Engineer for many years
and for seventeen years he was a prominent member and president of the
Catasauqua School Board, serving from 1876 to 1893. Fairview Cemetery had been
laid out by him and for many years he was superintendent of the same and
president of the association, never accepting any pay for his services. Socially
he was a member and Past Master of Porter Lodge, No. 284, F. and A. M., and a
Companion of Catasauqua Royal Arch Chapter, No. 278, and a member of Beacon
Council, No. 422, Royal Arcanum of Allentown. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman resided at
534 Fourth Street.
Charles
W. Chapman departed this life on March 13, 1904
and his body was laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery.
Annie (Philips) Chapman had passed away on April
24, 1900 and her remains were interred at Fairview
Cemetery.
DANIEL DAVIES, who was born in Wales in June, 1812, married
Mary Philips and to this union were born the following children: John, born
September 29, 1835, died October 19, 1862; George, born April 9, 1837, of
further mention; and Mary Ann, born January 19, 1839, married James Thomas,
died July 16, 1921.
Daniel Davies, who was a
moulder by trade, left Wales accompanied with his family in June, 1846, and
arrived in New York in July of the same year. He found employment as a
foundryman in the Novelty Works, New York city and afterwards he was employed
in Jersey City, New Jersey, and Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. He later went to
Tamaqua, where he entered the employ of Hopkin Thomas, who was then serving as
master mechanic of the Beaver Meadow Railroad and Coal Company. In the early
part of 1849, Mr. Davies left Tamaqua and went to Weatherly, and in July of
1850 came to Catasauqua, entering the foundry of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works.
Severing his connection with the Lehigh Crane Iron Works in 1865, he entered
into partnership with William Thomas in the foundry business, purchasing the
property of the old Knauss and Harwig planing mill, which had recently been
burnt down, located in East Catasauqua on Race Street, by the Catasauqua Creek.
There they started their enterprise, Davies and Thomas Company, and three
months later George Davies was admitted into the partnership. After two years the
firm of Davies and Thomas was dissolved, Mr. Thomas withdrawing his interest
and returning to Wales. The company then traded under the name of Davies and
Son, and continued as such until the death of Daniel Davies, which occurred on
April 8, 1876. A member of the Presbyterian faith, his remains were interred at
Fairview Cemetery.
GEORGE DAVIES, son of Daniel and Mary (Philips) Davies, was
born in the village of Merthyr Tydvil, Glamorganshire, South Wales on April 9,
1837. Emigrating to America with his parents in 1846, he later settled at
Catasauqua in 1850, where he worked as a moulder for two years at the Lehigh
Crane Iron Works, after which he served an apprenticeship of five years in the
shops of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works, at the trade of machinist, first under
the tutelage of David Jones and then in 1853 under Hopkin Thomas. He was then
employed as a master mechanic in Belvidere, Camden and Amboy, New Jersey; and
the Novelty Works, New York City.
In 1861, in company with
Thomas Jones, he entered Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York,
and graduated with honors from that commercial school. Mr. Davies was then
employed as a master mechanic at Parryville, Pennsylvania, and in 1865 he
became associated with Davies and Thomas Company, of Catasauqua, the firm being
re-named Davies and Son in 1868. George Davies remained at Catasauqua until
1871, when he returned to Parryville to take charge of the Carbon Iron Works,
and there he remained until 1876. With the death of his father he returned to
Catasauqua, taking charge of the family business. In 1879, his brother-in-law,
James Thomas purchased one-half interest in the foundry and machine shop and
the firm then traded as Davies and Thomas Company, and this business
relationship continued until the death of Mr. Davies. George Davies was also a
director of the Wahnetah Silk Company, a principle stockholder in the Electric
Light and Power Company of Catasauqua, and a director in the Bethlehem Light
and Power Company.
On August 4, 1864, in Catasauqua, George Davies was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Evans, daughter of Thomas R. Evans, and to this union were born the following children: John M., born September 26, 1865, died October 30, 1885; Elizabeth, born May, 1867, married Harrison E. Graffin,
48
died 1945; Rowland T., born March 24, 1869, of further
mention; George, born 1874, died 1875; George, born
1876, of further mention; and James T., born November
2, 1879, of further mention.
In 1863, while at
Parryville, George Davies enlisted as first sergeant of Captain James Thomas'
company, Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Emergency Volunteers, mustering in June 3,
1863 and serving until his discharge, August 24, 1863. He was identified with
the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Porter Lodge, No. 284. He was a
staunch adherent to the principles of the Republican Party, and in 1892 he was
elected to the Catasauqua school board, serving as a member at the time of his
death.
He was a member and
liberal contributor to the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Catasauqua, in
which he served as trustee, steward and class-leader. Mr. and Mrs. Davies
resided at the northeast corner of Second and Race Streets.
George Davies passed
away at his residence on Monday evening, October 1, 1894, after an illness of
two days. The remains were interred in the family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
His widow, Mary (Evans) Davies departed this life on April 17, 1923 and her
remains were consigned to the Davies family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
ROWLAND T. DAVIES, son of George and Mary A. (Evans) Davies, was
born in Catasauqua on March 24, 1869: He attended the local public schools,
graduating from Catasauqua High School in 1885. He later became a pupil of
Alexander N. Ulrich Esq., of Catasauqua, who conducted a private school for the
preparation of boys for college. He subsequently attended Lehigh University,
but left this institution prior to his graduation, and at once began his
business career at the Davies and Thomas Company. After working in the shops
for two years, he entered the office of the works, and with the incorporation
of the firm, after the death of his father, he was appointed vice-president, in
which capacity he served until January, 1909. Rowland T. Davies retired from
the Davies and Thomas Company in 1912, but he remained active in his other
business enterprises. He served as an officer of the Lehigh Valley Electric
Company, successor of the Electric Light and Power Company of Catasauqua, which
later was absorbed by the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company. He was a
director of the Wahnetah Silk Company, National Bank of Catasauqua, and the
Catasauqua Building and Loan Company. For a number of years he also served as a
member of the Fairview Cemetery Association.
Rowland T. Davies
married Miss Mary Alice Lambert on June 15, 1898, and three weeks after the
wedding, July 4, 1898, she died. Her remains were interred in the George Davies
family plot at Fairview Cemetery. He later married, for a second time, Miss
Annie Fuller, daughter of Orange M. and Jane (Glick) Fuller.
Mr. Davies was a member
of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Catasauqua, and he served as president
of the board of trustees. He was also secretary-treasurer of the Sunday school
of the church. He was a Republican in politics, and upon the death of his
father he filled his unexpired term as a member of the school board. He was
appointed receiver of taxes for Catasauqua in May 1911, serving the unexpired
term of David Tolan, deceased.
Fraternally Mr. Davies
was a member of Porter Lodge, No. 284, F. and A. M.; was treasurer of the
Catasauqua Royal Arch Chapter; Allen Commandery No. 20, Knights Templar; Rajah
Temple, of Reading; and the Catasauqua Club.
Rowland T. Davies passed
away in his home, 235 Bridge Street, on April 24, 1933 and his remains were
interred in the Fuller family plot at Fairview Cemetery. His widow, Annie
(Fuller) Davies departed this life on August 21, 1940 and her remains were also
interred in the Fuller family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
GEORGE DAVIES, Jr., son of George and Mary A. (Evans) Davies, was
born at Catasauqua in 1876. He was educated in the public schools of his native
borough, graduating from high school in 1892. He was also a graduate of Lehigh
University. He served as superintendent of the Westchester Lighting Company at
White Plains, New York for two years. He then became associated with the Davies
and Thomas Company, and he later took charge of the company's New York City
office, where he was responsible for contracts for tunnel lining segments in
which the firm specialized. During 1923 the Davies and Thomas Company came
under the control of the George H. Flinn Corporation, of New York City, and
George Davies, Jr. remained with the firm.
On or about 1933, George
Davies, Jr. was appointed president of the Davies and Thomas Company, which was
then under the ownership of United States Pipe and Foundry Company. Through the
purchase of stock, Mr. Davies acquired control of the company in 1945, and he
fulfilled all the company's orders. Operations were thereafter suspended and in
October 1947, George Davies, Jr. disposed of the plant by selling off all its
physical assets.
George Davies, Jr. was
married to Miss Mary Julia Schwab, daughter of Joseph H. and Marietta (Young)
Schwab. On April 15, 1955, George Davies, Jr. passed away at his home at
Bronxville, New York and the funeral services were held in New York City.
JAMES T. DAVIES, son of George and Mary A. (Evans) Davies, was
born at Catasauqua on November 2, 1879. He was educated in the Catasauqua High
School; the Beltz Academy, at Stamford, Connecticut; the Stiles' Preparatory
Academy, at Ithaca, New York, and at Lehigh University. He then entered the
shops of the Davies and Thomas Company, where he followed the machinist trade
for three years, after which he transferred into the office, where he served as
assistant purchasing agent, continuing in that position until February, 1911.
He then conducted a cigar, tobacco and confectionery business at the corner of
Front and Bridge Streets.
In 1903, James T. Davies
married Miss Elizabeth S. Snyder, daughter of William T. and Eliza R. (Yoder)
Snyder. This union was blessed with two children: Mary E., born July 12, 1903,
died January 2, 1983; and William S., born January 4, 1907, died January 30,
1986.
Mr. Davies was a member
of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Catasauqua. He was a member of Porter
Lodge, No. 284, F. and A. M., and Catasauqua Chapter, No. 278, Royal Arch
Masons.
After being in ill
health for several years, James T. Davies passed away in his home at 530 Walnut
Street on June 2, 1947 and his remains were interred in the Snyder family plot
at Fairview Cemetery. Elizabeth S. (Snyder) Davies died on April 1, 1965 and
her remains were also interred in the Snyder family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
NOAH DAVIS was born on May 20, 1810, in Glamorganshire,
South Wales. He emigrated to America and settled in Carbondale, Pennsylvania,
where he worked as a blacksmith. He then removed to Beaver Meadows, where he
married Margaret Gwynne, who was also a native of Glamorganshire, being born on
January 1, 1820. This union was blessed with the following children: Samuel,
born 1841, removed to Dover, New Jersey, where he served as superintendent of
the Port Oram Mines. He and his wife, America, were the parents of the
following children: (Mary, 1867-1953; Robert, 1871-1873; Harriet, 1873-1954).
Samuel Davis passed away in 1927, and his body was interred at Fairveiw
Cemetery; Daniel, born March 12, 1842, of further mention; David, born April 5,
1845, of further mention; Henry, born February 28, 1846, of further mention;
William O., born October 31, 1848, died June 28, 1852; Mary, born June 5, 1850,
died June 27, 1925; Sarah, born July 22, 1853, died November 5, 1883; John B.,
born March 25, 1855, of further mention; Hannah, born December 5, 1857, died
October 14, 1933.
Noah Davis moved to
Catasauqua in 1846 and there he accepted the position of boss blacksmith for
the Lehigh Crane Iron Works. He departed this life on May 21, 1859 and his
remains were interred at Fairveiw Cemetery. His widow, Margaret (Gwynne) Davis
passed away on August 3, 1891, and her body was also buried at Fairveiw
Cemetery.
DANIEL DAVIS, son of Noah and Margaret (Gwynne) Davis, was
born in Hazelton, Pennsylvania on March 12, 1842. He came to Catasauqua with
his parents in 1846 and there he attended the public schools, being one of the
first students to attend the Bridge Street School building when it first
opened. He left school to work in the blacksmith shop of the Lehigh Crane Iron
Works. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in Company C, 46th
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Mustering in on August 17, 1861, he reenlisted
at the end of his three-year enlistment and he then served until the end of the
war, mustering out on July 26, 1865, with the rank of Sergeant.
Upon returning home to
Catasauqua he became an agent for the Central Railroad of New Jersey. He served
in this capacity until November 5, 1879, when he received the superintendency
of the Keystone Furnace at Chain Dam and when the Thomas Iron Company acquired
the Keystone Furnace in 1882 he remained there as superintendent. On March 1,
1885 the Thomas Iron Company appointed Daniel Davis the superintendent of the
Lock Ridge furnaces at Alburtis and from there he retired in 1909.
Daniel Davis
married Gwenny Williams and to them were born the following
children: Margaret, born 1872, died 1919; Walter, employed by the Westinghouse
Electrical Company, Pittsburgh; Mary, born 1879, died 1920; John, born 1879,
died 1889; Gwenny, born 1881, died 1883; George; Rachel, born 1887, died 1889;
and Emma U., born 1889, died 1890.
Daniel Davis was a life
long Republican, casting his first ballot on the battlefield for Abraham
Lincoln. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua and he
served as a trustee. He was also a member of the Porter Lodge, F. and A. M.,
284 of Catasauqua. Daniel Davis passed away in 1918 and his remains were
interred at Fairview Cemetery. Gwenny (Williams) Davis also died in 1918 and
her body was interred next to that of her husband.
DAVID DAVIS, son of Noah and Margaret (Gwynne) Davis, was
born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania on April 5, 1845. He was brought to Catasauqua
by his parents in 1846, and there he attended the public schools until the age
of eleven, when he began working in the shops of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works.
On January 1, 1860, he entered the office of the company as an errand boy and
he was later promoted to a clerkship. Over the years he worked his way up to
chief clerk and in 1892, with the death of John Williams, he was appointed
Cashier of the Crane Iron Works.
With Lee's invasion of
Pennsylvania in 1863, David Davis enlisted in Company B, 38th Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry and he serve until the expiration of his period of
enlistment of three months service.
David Davis married Miss
Annie McKibbon of Philadelphia, in 1869 and this union produced the following
children:
Bessie, born August,
1870, died 1939; Willard, born 1874, employed by the Lehigh Valley Railroad,
Philadelphia, died 1932; Mabel, born August, 1876, died 1954; Martha, born
September, 1878, died 1934; Charles L., employed as an Assistant Master
Mechanic of the Carnegie Steel Company at Rankin, Pennsylvania; and Sallie,
born 1885, died 1891.
David Davis served as a
member of the Catasauqua School Board from 1874 to 1911, and he also was
elected to a three-year term as Recorder of Deeds of Lehigh County in 1905. He
was a member of the Porter Lodge, F. and A. M.; Fuller Post No. 378, G. A. R.;
and the Southwark Hose Company No. 9, serving as president for a period of
thirty years. He was a member of the Presbyterian faith and an advocate of the
principles of the Republican Party. David Davis passed away in 1917 and his
remains were buried at Fairview Cemetery. His wife, Annie (McKibbon) Davis had
passed away in 1916 and her remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery.
HENRY DAVIS, son of Noah and Margaret (Gwynne) Davis, was
born February 28, 1846. He was employed by the Lehigh Crane Iron Works as an
accountant for several years and in 1866 he became the bookkeeper of the
Catasauqua Manufacturing Company. In 1874 he became treasurer of the firm and
he held that position until the company ceased operations in 1893.
Henry Davis was elected
Chief Burgess of Catasauqua in 1878 and he served as such thru 1880. He was
also appointed postmaster of Catasauqua by President William McKinley in 1898
and he served in this capacity until his death.
Henry Davis married Sarah Wilson in 1870, and to this union were born the following children: Samuel W.; Gwynne; Ruth, born July, 1874; Hope H., born 1878, died in infancy; Ross, born March, 1881;
52
Clyde, born April, 1883; Homer, born May, 1885;
Morgan, born 1888, died 1889; and Genevieve, born
1890, died in infancy.
Henry Davis died on
November 30, 1899 and his remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery. His
widow, Sarah (Wilson) Davis departed this life on September 14, 1903 and her
remains were also interred at Fairview Cemetery.
JOHN B. DAVIS, son of Noah and Margaret (Gwynne) Davis, was
born in Catasauqua on March 24, 1855. He spent his youth in the borough and he
was later employed as a clerk in the offices of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works. A
life long bachelor he passed away in the old family home at 207 Bridge Street
on February 17, 1909. His body was interred in the Davis family plot at
Fairview Cemetery.
MORGAN EMANUEL was born in North Wales in 1805. He was the son
of a sea-faring man, his father being a shipmaster. Morgan Emanuel also began
his business career as a seaman, but later he left that occupation and became
engaged with the iron works at Dowlais, Wales in contracting and furnishing
supplies.
Morgan Emanuel was first
married in Wales to Mary Jenkins, and they had one child that lived to
maturity, Morgan Emanuel, Jr., born March 18, 1831. Mary (Jenkins) Emanuel died
in Wales and Morgan Emanuel, Sr. left for America in 1844. He first settled near
Pottsville, Pennsylvania where he engaged as a mining contractor. About 1846,
he came to Catasauqua and became connected with the Lehigh Crane Iron Works,
his business being to supply the furnaces and to inspect the ore. He also
contracted supplies for other furnaces and he was a stockholder in the Thomas
Iron Company.
At Easton on February
22, 1856, Morgan Emanuel married for a second time, Miss Elizabeth Miller,
daughter of Robert and Jane (Maddah) Miller. From this union the following
children were born: Margaret, born 1858, died 1924; Thomas, born 1861, died
1892; and Jane, born 1862, died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel
resided in their beautiful home at 226 Pine Street, which they had built in
1868. Morgan Emanuel was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church and in
politics he was a staunch Republican.
Morgan Emanuel, Sr.
passed away on April 11, 1884 and his remains were interred at Fairview
Cemetery. Elizabeth (Miller) Emanuel died on March 17, 1894 and her remains
were also interred in the Emanuel family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
MORGAN EMANUEL, Jr., son of Morgan and Mary (Jenkins) Emanuel, was born in Glamorganshire, Wales on March 18, 1831. At the age of twelve he entered the mines, continuing there until coming to America in 1847 on the sailing vessel "Columbia." He followed his father to
53
Catasauqua, where he
attended the local schools for a couple of years.
Later he obtained employment at the Lehigh Crane
Iron Works and under the instruction of Noah Davis
became a practical blacksmith.
In March 1854, going to
Hokendauqua, he assisted in erecting the first building of the Thomas Iron
Company. He was the foreman of the blacksmith department until the completion
of that plant, when he then removed to Weatherly and for a year worked in the
railroad shops of the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
Returning to Catasauqua
Morgan Emanuel, Jr. became engaged in contracting for furnace furnishings, and
for several years he was the agent for the Lehigh Crane Iron Company's
limestone quarries. He next opened a quarry of building stone, for the
construction of the new No. 3 and No. 4 furnaces at Hokendauqua.
During the spring of
1861, he started a powder business and he received patents on a blasting
powders the main ingredient of which was Chile saltpetre. Along with William R.
Thomas I, he then organized the firm of Thomas and Emanuel, and they erected a
powder-house on the west side, near the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad
round house, for the purpose of manufacturing this blasting powder. After four
years the plant was destroyed by an explosion and never rebuilt. In April 1865,
Morgan Emanuel commenced traveling as a general agent for the Smith and Rand
Powder Company, of New York. This company was afterward consolidated, becoming
the Laflin and Rand Powder Company. In construction of the Union and Pacific
Railroad from Cheyenne to Ogden he furnished most of the powder used in
blasting. For four years he maintained his headquarters and office in Denver,
and he also had the agency for the Rand Drill Company, of New York.
Mr. Emanuel was the
first person to introduce dynamite into the Lehigh Valley, and also the first
in the introduction of Megneto, or Leyden jar and electric batteries, for
firing fuses. William G. Lewis entered the employ of Morgan Emanuel, his uncle,
and after a time the firm of Emanuel, Lewis and Company was organized for the
selling of powder and other explosives to local mines and quarries. In 1897,
after the death of Mr. Lewis, the firm was renamed M. Emanuel and Son.
At Mauch Chunk, on
October 9, 1855, Morgan Emanuel, Jr. married Miss Margaret Lewis, daughter of
Herbert and Elizabeth (Herring) Lewis, a native of Wales. This union was
blessed with the following children: Mary L., born November 18, 1856, graduated
from the Ladies' Seminary at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and died a year later
in 1878; Emily, born 1859, died in infancy; William H., born 1860, of further
mention; Emily J., born 1863, died 1864; and David L., born July, 1865, of
further mention.
In 1863, Morgan Emanuel enlisted
for three months' service in Company B, 38th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
He owned a farm of one hundred and four acres in Northampton County, adjoining
Catasauqua. The farm was known as the Crystal Hill Dairy and Emanuel and Son
also operated the Crystal Hill Creamery, located on Second Street. He was a
member of the Masonic society and he also belonged to the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows. Morgan Emanuel was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of
Catasauqua, being a Ruling Elder. In politics he was a strong Republican.
On March 2, 1901, Morgan Emanuel left New York on a Cunard Line steamer, traveling to his native land. After a pleasant and enjoyable voyage across the Atlantic, he spent several days with the parents of George E. Holton, at Liverpool. He then traveled to Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, South Wales, the home of his birth, and there on March 28, 1901 he passed away. The body was returned by steamer and
54
his remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery.
His wife, Margaret (Lewis) Emanuel had died in June
1900 and her remains were also buried in the Emanuel
family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
WILLIAM H. EMANUEL, son of Morgan, Jr. and Margaret (Lewis)
Emanuel, was born in Catasauqua in 1860. He attended the public schools of the
borough, graduating in 1877. He pursued his studies in the Chemistry Department
of Lafayette College, graduating from that institution of learning in 1880.
Soon after graduating he was appointed to the position his father had occupied,
as general agent of the Laflin and Rand Powder Company, with his headquarters
at Denver, Colorado. He then became engaged in the general agency of mine and
mill supplies, representing such concerns as the Frazer and Chalmers Rand Drill
Company, the Trenton Iron Works, and he also served as president of the
National Fuse Powder Company.
Accompanied by his wife,
William H. Emanuel returned to Catasauqua to attend the funeral of his father.
While staying in the Emanuel family home at Third and Strawberry Streets, he
fell ill and there he died one month later. His remains were interred in the
family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
DAVID L. EMANUEL, son of Morgan, Jr. and Margaret (Lewis)
Emanuel, was born July, 1865. He was engaged in general contracting for the
furnaces and was also a partner with his father, in the Crystal Hill Dairy and
Crystal Hill Creamery. During January, 1904, David L. Emanuel organized Emanuel
and Company for the manufacturing and crushing of blast furnace slag for
roofing and concrete work.
David L. Emanuel married
Winifred Williams, daughter of Oliver and Anna (Heilig) Williams, and to them
the following children were born: Paul Williams, born October 30, 1890, served
in World War I, married Elizabeth Brown, died August 4, 1957, interred Fairview
Cemetery; and Grace, born June 10, 1895, married Charles Eneu Johnson II, died
October 16, 1970, interred Fairview Cemetery. David L. Emanuel and his family
resided on the west side of Fourth Street, above Bridge Street in an English
Tudor styled home. Winifred (Williams) Emanuel passed away on April 21, 1931
and her remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery.
Born Johannes Fritz on
April 21, 1822 in Chester County, he was the son of George and Mary (Meharg)
Fritz. The father, George Fritz was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, while the
mother, Mary Meharg was of English and Irish descent, and this union produced
seven children that reached maturity, four of these were: Johannes (John);
George, employed as general superintendent of the Cambria Iron Works at the
time of his death, August, 1873; Katherine, wife of Isaac E. Chandler; and a
daughter, married B. Frank Stroud.
John Fritz spent his youth working on his father's farm and in 1838 he was apprenticed to a blacksmith and mechanic. In 1844 he found employment at a Norristown iron mill, owned by James Moore and Mr. Hooven, and he remained there for six years. In 1851, John Fritz, in the company of his brother, George Fritz, and his brother-in-laws, Isaac E. Chandler and B. Frank Stroud, started the Union Foundry and
55
Machine Company in Catasauqua. During 1854 John
Fritz left Catasauqua and removed to Johnstown,
where he served as superintendent of the Cambria
Iron Works until 1860. While superintendent of that
plant he developed the "three high" rail
mill, which revolutionized the rail-making process.
Put into operation on July 29, 1857, it proved to
be an immediate success and on October 5, 1858,
he was awarded a patent on this mill, enabling him
to control the use of his invention. After leaving
the Cambria Iron Works in 1860, his brother, George
Fritz became superintendent and there he remained
until his death. John Fritz, along with the rights
to his invention, then came to Bethlehem at the
request of Robert Sayre and there he became superintendent
of the Bethlehem Rolling Mill and Iron Company (Bethlehem
Steel Company). During his years of management,
the plant increased in size and the steel making
process was added to the plant facilities. John
Fritz retired from active business at the end of
1892.
John Fritz married Ellen
Maxwell and from this union was born a daughter, Gertrude, born 1853, died,
1860.
John Fritz had two
buildings erected in South Bethlehem, one was the Fritz Memorial Methodist
Church, donated in honor of his father and mother; and in 1909, the Fritz
Engineering Laboratory at Lehigh University, designed by Mr. Fritz himself. On
February 13, 1913, at the age of 91, John Fritz died in his sleep.
The ancestry of the
Fuller family can be traced back in direct line to Robert Fuller, whose eldest
child, Edward Fuller, was the founder of the family in America. Edward Fuller
was baptized at Revenhall, Norfolk, England. About the year 1607 or 1608 he
fled to Holland with his brother, who was a physician and deacon. The name Edward
Fuller appears as the twenty-first signer of the "Mayflower Compact"
drawn up aboard ship previous to landing at Plymouth Rock in November, 1620.
His first wife, Anne, died soon after their arrival in the new world. They had
two children: Matthew, who died at Barnstable, Massachusetts, 1678, and whose
wife was Frances Fuller; and Samuel.
SAMUEL FULLER, son of Edward Fuller, was born in Leyden,
Holland, in 1612, and was brought to America on the Mayflower by his parents.
He became a freeman in 1634, and was married in Scituate, Massachusetts, April
8, 1635, by Captain Miles Standish to Jane Lathrop, a daughter of the Rev. John
Lathrop. This union was blessed with the following children: John, Hannah,
Samuel, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary, Thomas, and John. Samuel Fuller departed this
life on October 31, 1681.
John Fuller, the
youngest son of Samuel and Jane (Lathrop) Fuller, was born between the years
1650 and 1656. He married Mehitable Rowley, and afterward wedded Elizabeth
Fuller. Their children were as follows: Thomas, born 1679; Samuel, born 1682;
Shubael, born 1688;Thankful, born 1688; Deborah, born 1689; Edward, born 1691;
Elizabeth, born 1693; John, born 1697; Joseph, born March 1, 1699, of further
mention; Benjamin, born October 20, 1701; Anne, born 1703; and Mehitable, born
April 6, 1706.
Joseph Fuller, son of John and Elizabeth Fuller, was born March 1, 1699, and he married Lydia Day on December 22, 1722. They were the parents of the following children: Joseph, born 1723, of further mention; Rachel, born 1723; Zachariah, born 1725; Grace, born 1726; Jeremiah, born 1728; Lydia, born
56
1729; Mindwell, born 1730; Ruth, born 1735; Abraham,
born October, 1737; Jacob, born 1739; and Isaac,
born 1741, married Sarah Kelsey, November 5, 1769.
After the death of his first wife, Joseph Fuller
wed Mrs. Serviah Noble in Connecticut on January
8, 1766.
Joseph Fuller, son of
Joseph and Lydia (Day) Fuller, was born in 1723, and he married Zerviah Hill on
August 10, 1752. He removed from Connecticut and bought land in Stockbridge,
Massachusetts, from the Indians, June 19, 1767. He later emigrated to
Pennsylvania, and his will is recorded at Wilkes-Barre. To him and his wife
were born nine children: Joshua, born July 11, 1754; Benajah, born June 4,
1756; Lydia, born April 23, 1758; Joseph, born December 19, 1760; Jehiel, born
December 15, 1763, of further mention; Abigail, born May 16, 1766; Ruth, born
September 3, 1769; Zerviah, born May 24, 1774; and Jeremiah, born February 24,
1776.
JEHIEL FULLER, son of Joseph and Zerviah (Hill) Fuller, was
born in Sharon, Connecticut on December 15, 1763. He removed to Stockbridge,
Massachusetts with his parents and in 1769 he accompanied them to Pennsylvania,
settling at a place called Centermoreland, where he died. Jehiel Fuller married
Hannah Hill, who after his death went with her younger children to Illinois,
dying at Elmira, Illinois about six years later. Their children were as
follows: Chauncey D., born June 20, 1799, of further mention; Orin, Ambrose,
Harry, Jehiel, Malinda, and Hannah.
CHAUNCEY D. FULLER, son of Jehiel and Hannah (Hill) Fuller, was
born on June 20, 1799. He came to the Lehigh Valley area from the
"Plains" above Wilkes-Barre soon after construction on the Lehigh
Canal commenced and he found employment with the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
Company for a number of years. Chauncey D. Fuller subsequently followed his
eldest son, J. W. Fuller to Catasauqua, and there he served as Justice of the
Peace from 1855 to 1865.
Chauncey D. Fuller
married Sarah Abbott and to this union were born the following children: James
Wheeler, born August 22, 1821, of further mention; Charles Dorrance, born
September 9, 1823, of further mention; Orlando, born 1826, served as a private
in Co. F, 47th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. He later
removed to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Abbott, born 1828; and Lieutenant George W.
Fuller, born September 1, 1839, of further mention.
Chauncey D. Fuller
departed this life on October 5, 1870 and his earthly remains were interred at
Fairview Cemetery.
JAMES WHEELER FULLER, son of Chauncey D. and Sarah (Abbott) Fuller,
was born at Forty Fort, Pennsylvania on August 22, 1821. He came to Craneville
during the year 1842, and he spent his early years running boats on the canal.
In 1849 he took over the operations of the canal store, No. 2 Race Street.
James W. Fuller was then employed by David Thomas, operating for the Lehigh
Crane Iron Company and the Thomas Iron Company, to secure from the Legislature
of Pennsylvania a charter for a railroad to extend from Catasauqua to
Fogelsville. He served in this capacity from 1852 to 1854, when the charter was
finally approved.
In 1858, Mr. Fuller
purchased 6 acres and 110 perches of land in South Whitehall (now Whitehall)
Township, from Robert McIntyre and Peter Miller, for the purpose of starting a
cemetery. He employed Charles W. Chapman to lay out the land into burial lots,
10 by 20 feet, and named the place Fairview Cemetery.
During the Civil War,
James W. Fuller became prominently identified with the political and military
affairs of Pennsylvania and his influence with the Republican administration
was generally recognized. During Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania during the
summer of 1863, James W. Fuller enlisted as a private in Co. B, 38th Pennsylvania
Volunteers.
Early in the war he
became a large-scale horse dealer with the federal government; in 1863 he was
the second highest income earner in Lehigh County, with earnings of $13,000. He
also worked as a contractor during his business career.
On November 8, 1840,
James W. Fuller married Clarissa Miller, daughter of Henry and Catherine
(Sterner) Miller, and to them were born the following children: Orange M., born
April 9, 1841, of further mention; James W. II, born March 16, 1843, of further
mention; William F., born January 31, 1845, died April 21, 1852; Clarissa, born
January 31, 1851, married Ogden Frederick, died December 11, 1922; Abbott F.,
born 1855, of further mention; and Clinton H., born July 24, 1858, of further
mention. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller resided 131 Front Street.
James W. Fuller departed
this life on November 22, 1872 and his remains were interred at Fairview
Cemetery. Clarissa (Miller) Fuller passed away on December 24, 1902 and her
remains were also interred in the Fuller family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
ORANGE M. FULLER, son of James W. and Clarissa (Miller) Fuller,
was born on April 9, 1841, and he attended the Wyoming Seminary at Kingston,
Luzerne County. He worked for a time as a teller in the National Bank of
Catasauqua, and during the eighteen-sixties he became associated with Edward
Schlauch in the firm of Fuller and Schlauch, dealers in books and stationary.
The business was located at 407 Front Street, what was then known as the Fuller
block. Later Orange M. Fuller purchased his partner's share in the business and
he then conducted the firm as O. M. Fuller and Company. During 1891, Mr. Fuller
sold the firm to Charles E. Sheckler, Jr. He also engaged in the real estate
business and continued with this enterprise until his death. He laid out part
of the village of Pleasant Hill (West Catasauqua), and he also sold many of the
building lots in the village.
Orange M. Fuller married
Jane Glick, daughter of Aaron and Mary Glick, and to them the following
children were born: Annie, born March 28, 1868, married Rowland T. Davies, died
August 21, 1940; Edgar, born January 6, 1874, died July 15, 1874; Willard B.,
born November 27, 1875, of further mention; and Marion, born September 14,
1883, died December 14, 1885. Orange M. Fuller and his family resided at 235
Bridge Street. Orange M. Fuller was a member of the Republican Party and he
served as a member of the borough council for several years.
Orange M. Fuller died at
his home on January 20, 1902 and his mortal remains were consigned to the
family plot at Fairview Cemetery. Jane (Glick) Fuller passed away on January
19, 1917 and her remains were also interred at Fairview Cemetery.
WILLARD B. FULLER, son of Orange M. and Jane (Glick) Fuller, was
born in Catasauqua on November 27, 1875. He was a graduate from Lehigh
University, with the Class of 1898. Throughout his life he never engaged in
activities other than those of his family. He held membership in Grace
Methodist Episcopal Church of Catasauqua, and he passed away at his home, 235
Bridge Street, on September 2, 1957. His earthly remains were interred in the
Fuller family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
JAMES WHEELER FULLER II, son of James W. and Clarissa (Miller)
Fuller, was born on March 16, 1843. In his youth he attended the public schools
at Catasauqua and private schools at Weaversville, Norristown and Kingston,
Pennsylvania. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in Co. F, 47th Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Captain Henry S. Harte. He was
promoted to sergeant and on October 30, 1861 he was elevated to adjutant, with
the rank of Lieutenant. After a protracted illness he was honorably discharged
from active service on January 9, 1862. He then moved to Philadelphia, where he
worked as a salesman in a queensware house.
After returning to
Catasauqua, in 1868 he organized, in the company of his brother-in-law, James
H. McKee, the firm of McKee, Fuller and Company, which then purchased the
Lehigh Car, Wheel and Axle Works located at Ferndale (Fullerton). James W.
Fuller II laid out the streets for the village of Ferndale in 1870 and the town
was renamed Fullerton in his honor during 1894.
James W. Fuller II also
served as president of the Catasauqua Manufacturing Company; vice-president of
the Empire Steel and Iron Company; and he served as a director of the following
companies: Thomas Iron Company; Wahnetah Silk Company, which he helped
organize; Lehigh Valley Trust Company, Allentown; Ironton Railroad Company;
Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad Company; and Lehigh Foundry Company. He
also owned three farms, containing approximately two hundred acres where he
raised Guernsey cattle, one of which was Fuller Grove, 57 acres purchased in
1885 and located east of Fourth Street to Howertown Road and north of Liberty
Street to Grove Street.
James W. Fuller II
married Katherine Maria Thomas, daughter of Hopkin and Catherine (Richards)
Thomas, during the year 1864. This union was blessed with the following
children: Maud Miller, born September 18, 1865, married Joseph Sketchley
Elverson, issue: (Joseph Fuller Elverson, and James F. Elverson), she was an
active member in the volunteer fire department of Catasauqua, resided at 533
Fourth Street, and died October 8, 1938; Blanche, born 1867, married Dr. Louis
A. Salade, removed to Medford, Oregon; George Liewellyn, born July 27, 1867,
died June 23, 1890; Mary Louise, born 1872, married Hiram D. McCaskey, removed
to Medford, Oregon; and Lt. Col. James W. III, born April 2, 1873, of further
mention.
James W. Fuller II and his
family occupied an elegant residence on the north side of Bridge Street,
located between Fourth Street and Howertown Road. The home was built of a
native granite. Mr. Fuller was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of
Catasauqua, and he was a member to the Republican Party.
James W. Fuller II died
in his home on January 15, 1910 and his remains were interred in the Fuller
family plot at Fairview Cemetery. Kate M. (Thomas) Fuller passed away on
February 25, 1920 and her remains were buried at Fairview Cemetery.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL JAMES
WHEELER FULLER III was born in Catasauqua on April 2, 1873. He was the youngest
son of James W. II and Katherine (Thomas) Fuller. He received his early
education in the local public schools and then at the Haverford (Pa.)
Preparatory School, after which he entered the shops of the Lehigh Car, Wheel
and Axle Works as an apprentice in the machinists' and moulders' trades. He
served his apprenticeship throughout the practical departments of this firm,
and he subsequently became a salesman, treasurer, general manager, and, in
1913, president of the company, continuing in the last-named capacity until
1926. The company was re-organized in 1918 and the named of the firm was
changed to Fuller Lehigh Company. On January 4, 1926, James W. Fuller III sold
the Fuller-Lehigh Company rights, patents, and properties, with the exception
of the Kinyon pump patent, to the Babcock and Wilcox Company for $3,000,000. He
remained as chairman of the board for a few months before resigning on April 1,
1926. James W. Fuller III had organized Fuller Company, on March 11, 1926, to
handle the Fuller-Kinyon pump system. As president of this company he purchased
the old Empire Steel and Iron Company building at 124 Bridge Street, and there
he maintained the company's offices.
James W. Fuller III also
controlled and was president of the Allentown Portland Cement Company from 1910
until his death and president of the Valley Forge Cement Company from 1927
until his death. He served as a director of the Railway Spring Company and
member of the executive committee of the Empire Steel and Iron Company prior to
their sale. He was a director of McDermott Brothers, Wahnetah Silk Company and
the Lehigh County Agricultural Society.
James W. Fuller III was
married twice: first in Bethlehem, June 18, 1902, to Emily Meyers, daughter of
George Henry Meyers of Bethlehem, and to this union were born two children:
James W. IV, born December 18, 1903, of further mention; and Emily Meyers, born
1910, died in New York City, 1958. His second marriage took place in Newark,
New Jersey, March 23, 1917, to Dorothy Marie Stalcup, daughter of Seth Alfred
Stalcup of Denver, Colorado, and this marriage produced one son: Charlton
Thomas, born 1919.
James W. Fuller III
erected a fine dwelling house at the southwest corner of Bridge Street and
Howertown Road. He was a member of the Republican Party and he served on the
military staff of Governor John K. Tenor, holding the rank of Lieutenant
Colonel. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua. He was
also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Society
of Chemical Engineers, American Mining and Metallurgical Society, American Iron
and Steel Institute, International Railway Fuel Association, Pennsylvania State
Chamber of Commerce, Engineers Club of New York City, Manufacturers and Racquet
clubs of Philadelphia, Germantown Cricket Club, Livingston Club of Allentown,
the Lehigh, Northampton and Saucon Valley Country clubs, Westchester-Biltmore Country
Club of Rye, New York, and the Congressional Country Club of Washington D. C.
Colonel Fuller
accumulated approximately 1,300 acres of land in Allen and Hanover townships,
which he named "Willow Brook Farms." The land was acquired by the
purchase of existing farms owned by several different families, namely:
Emanuel, Gogle, Deily, Brienig, Holton and Schaden. At his Willow Brook Farm he
bred horses and maintained a herd of Guernsey cows, and, along with General
Harry Trexler, he was a prime mover in breeding and stocking the Chinese ringneck
pheasant in this area.
Lt. Colonel James W.
Fuller III was stricken with some strange malady while returning by ship from
Hawaii, which the ship's surgeons were unable to successfully combat. Arriving
at San Francisco, he was immediately removed to St. Luke's Hospital and there
he was diagnosed as having a form of encephalitis, known as 'sleeping sickness."
After several days of unconsciousness he passed away on Thursday morning at one
o'clock, April 4, 1929. His remains were returned home and were interred in the
Fuller family plot at Fairview Cemetery. His widow later remarried a Mr. Allen
and on March 2, 1953, Dorothy (Stalcup) Fuller Allen passed away and her
remains were also buried in the Fuller family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
JAMES WHEELER FULLER IV, son of Lt. Colonel James W. III and
Emily (Meyers) Fuller, was born in Catasauqua on December 18, 1903. He became a
director of Fuller Company upon its founding in 1926, and with his father's
death in April, 1929 he inherited sixty percent of the company; the remaining
shares were inherited by his brother, C. Thomas Fuller. In November 1939, James
W. Fuller IV was elected president of Fuller Company and he served as such
until August 1954, when the concern was sold to General American Transportation
Corporation (GATX). He served as vice-president of Allentown Portland Cement
Company and owned forty percent of its stock until its purchase by National
Gypsum Company in 1959. He also served as a director of the National Bank of
Catasauqua and after its merger in 1960 he served as a director of the First
National Bank of Allentown.
James W. Fuller IV
married three times: first to Marguerite Myers, issue: Marguerite, removed to
Berkeley, California, married a Mr. Harms; Mary, married first, Rodney Baker of
Catasauqua, and second, Dr. Robert Panzer of Ocala, Florida; and James W. V,
born July 14, 1936, died December 29, 1936. In December, 1943, Mr. Fuller
married a second time, Lucy M. Wint, daughter of Charles J. and Amanda
(Stecker) Wint, issue: James Charles, born November 11, 1944. The third
marriage was to Florence Steiner, no issue.
James W. Fuller IV
resided in the Fuller family home at the southwest corner of Bridge Street and
Howertown Road. After the sale of Fuller Company he moved to his beloved Rocky
Hill Farms in Allen Township and he then spent the winter months at Boca Raton,
Florida. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, and
over the years he provided several major gifts to the local community with a
minimum of publicity. He also was an active member of the Fairview Cemetery
Association.
James W. Fuller IV
passed away in Muhlenberg Hospital Center on August 13, 1986 and his remains
were interred in the Fuller family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
ABBOTT F. FULLER, son of James W. and Clarissa (Miller) Fuller
was born at Catasauqua in 1855. In his early years he was associated with his
brother, Clinton H. Fuller, in the Globe Metal Works. After selling his share
of the business in 1890 to his brother, Abbott F. Fuller then engaged in the
oil business at Catasauqua. Abbott F. Fuller removed from Catasauqua around the
turn of the new century, living first at Emmaus and then residing in West
Philadelphia, where he died on January 21, 1941, being survived by a wife, one
son and two daughters and a number of grandchildren, all of whom resided in
Philadelphia. His mortal remains were returned to his native borough and buried
in the Fuller family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
CLINTON HENRY FULLER, son of James W. and Clarissa (Miller) Fuller,
was born at Catasauqua on July 24, 1858. He was educated in the public schools
at Catasauqua and he attended Muhlenberg College. In 1883 he established yards
at Fullerton, where he engaged in the scrape iron business. He later took in as
a partner his brother, Orange M. Fuller, the partnership existing for two
years, when he assumed control of the entire business again. Clinton H. Fuller
disposed of his Fullerton plant in 1889 and with his brother, Abbott F. Fuller,
he established the Globe Metal Works, which was located on Race Street, between
the canal and the Lehigh River. During 1890 he purchased his brother's interest
in the firm and he then conducted the business until 1900, when a fire
destroyed the entire plant. Clinton H. Fuller then organized the Fuller Oil and
Supply Company in Catasauqua, which he continued to operate until his death.
Clinton H. Fuller was a
member of the Republican Party and he served as a member of the borough council
for one term. He was a member of Porter Lodge, F. and A. M.; Allen Commandery,
No. 20, Knights Templar, of Allentown; Philadelphia Consistory, No. 320; Lulu
Temple, Philadelphia; and Allentown Lodge of Elks.
On November 5, 1893,
Clinton H. Fuller was united in marriage to Miss Emma B. Bortz, daughter of
David and Mary (Fegley) Bortz, of Shamrock, Pennsylvania. During 1904, he
erected a colonial style mansion at the northwest corner of Eighteenth and
Turner Streets, Allentown and there he resided the remainder of his life. Mr.
Fuller was very active in the development of the West End of Allentown. On June
19, 1909, Clinton H. Fuller passed away in his home and his earthly remains
were interred at Fairview Cemetery. His widow, Emma (Bortz) Fuller, married for
a second time, on November 29, 1913, Leonard G. Sefing. She departed this life
on August 8, 1933 and her remains were interred in the Fuller family plot at
Fairview Cemetery.
CHARLES DORRANCE FULLER, son of Chauncey D. and Sarah (Abbott)
Fuller, was born on September 9, 1823. He followed his elder brother, James W.
Fuller, to Catasauqua, and there he was engaged throughout his life as a
contractor, being an eminent builder of bridges and large structures. One of
his projects was the replacement of the Crane Iron Company Bridge after it had
been swept away during the Flood of 1862. He was appointed postmaster of
Catasauqua in 1862 and he served as such until 1865. He also served as a member
of the Catasauqua School Board during the year of 1863. Early in 1865, Charles
D. Fuller was one of the organizers of the Catasauqua Oil Company, which purchased
land in Venango County for oil speculation. In 1866, in the company of William
R. Thomas I, he organized the Lehigh Car, Wheel and Axle Company at Fullerton,
which was in turn acquired by the firm of McKee, Fuller and Company.
Charles
D. Fuller married Harriett Harris and to this union
were born the following children: Joseph, born 1850,
removed to Slatington; Irene, born December 30,
1853, died June 15, 1908, married Alexander Ulrich
Esq., issue: Charles N. Ulrich Esq.; Dr. Harry C.,
born October 19, 1855, removed to Jersey Shore,
Pennsylvania, died November 19, 1927; Irving S.
Franklin, born June 27, 1857, died January 22, 1858;
Chauncey O., born October 15, 1859, of further mention;
George W., born August 27, 1861, died October 22,
1894; Hattie, born May 2, 1864, died October 18,
1864; Charles D., born July 15, 1865, of further
mention; and Marion Louise
During the invasion of
Pennsylvania in the summer of 1863 by Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, Charles
D. Fuller enlisted as a private in Co. B, 38th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
He and his family resided in their fine residence, located on the north side of
Bridge Street, between Fourth and Crane Streets.
Charles D. Fuller passed
away on September 16, 1873 and his remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery.
His widow, Harriett (Harris) Fuller departed this life on March 26, 1897 and
her remains were also interred at Fairview Cemetery.
CHAUNCEY ORLANDO FULLER, son of Charles D. and Harriett (Harris)
Fuller, was born at Catasauqua on October 15, 1859. He was employed by the
Bryden Horse Shoe Company as a bookkeeper for a period of twenty-five years.
During the year of 1913, he helped organize the Crystal Ice Company, which was
located at the southeast corner of Peach and American Streets. Chauncey O.
Fuller was elected secretary-treasurer of the firm and he held this position
until his death.
Chauncey O. Fuller resided
for fifteen years at the Eagle Hotel, Front and Bridge Streets, and there he
died of typhoid pneumonia on January 8, 1915. His remains were interred in the
Fuller family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
CHARLES D. FULLER, Jr., son of Charles D. and Harriett (Harris)
Fuller, was born at Catasauqua on July 15, 1865. He was educated in the public
schools of Catasauqua and he received his higher education at Lafayette
College. Charles D. Fuller removed to Latrobe, Pennsylvania and found
employment with the Railway Steel Spring Company, where he advanced to head the
chemical and furnace departments of the company. He also wrote several books on
the subject of chemistry.
Charles D. Fuller was
united in marriage to Stella McKerina of Slatington. He passed away at Latrobe
on March 20, 1929 and his earthly remains were brought home to the place of his
birth and interred in the family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
LIEUTENANT GEORGE W. FULLER, son of Chauncey D. and
Sarah (Abbott) Fuller, was born on September 1, 1839. He came to Catasauqua
with his parents in his early years. With the outbreak of the War Between the
States he enlist in Company F, Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
under the command of Captain Henry S. Harte. He mustered into service on August
30, 1861 and was elected 1st Lieutenant. He was discharged on a Surgeon's
certificate on June 22, 1864, because of injuries he sustained during the war.
Lieutenant George W. Fuller died at Dry Tortugas, Florida on September 29,
1864, and his body was shipped home and interred at Fairview Cemetery. The
Grand Army of the Republic post organized at Catasauqua after the war was named
in his honor.
The patriarch of this
family was George Holton, who married Miss Hope Mary Coumbe, and they were the
proud parents of six children, as follows: George Edward, born April 24, 1868,
of further mention; Edith, who taught English in the royal family of Czarist
Russia; Lucy; Maude, married a Mr. Guteman; H. Morley, born July 15, 1879, of
further mention; and Ellen, married a Mr. Simpson.
GEORGE EDWARD HOLTON, elder son of George and Hope Mary (Coumbe)
Holton, was born in London, England, April 24, 1868. He received a scientific
education in the schools of Norwood, Survey and London, and he emigrated to
America in 1886. Mr. Holton then entered the employ of the Pencoyd Iron Works,
of Philadelphia. In 1889 he became inspector for G. W. G. Ferris and Company,
of Pittsburgh, in the eastern territory, and had charge of the inspection and
testing of the cast iron segments used in the construction of the first tunnel
under the Hudson River, known as the Hoboken Tunnel. In 1892 he was hired by
Oliver Williams as a salesman for the Bryden Horse Shoe Company and he
established sales agencies in all parts of the country. His remarkable business
ability gained for him rapid advancement to the offices of vice-president and
sales manager, and upon the death of Oliver Williams in 1904 he was elected
president and treasurer of the company, and in this capacity he remained until
his death.
George E. Holton married
Miss Jessica Williams, daughter of Oliver and Anna (Heilig) Williams, and from
this union were born the following children: Oliver Williams, born 1895;
Kathryn; and Jessica Williams. The Holton family resided at the old Williams
residency at 616 Second Street.
Mr. Holton served as a
member of the borough council; a director of the National Bank of Catasauqua
and the Cement National Bank of Northampton; and president and treasurer of
Emanuel and Company. He was a member of the Catasauqua Club; Northampton
Country Club; vice-president of the Lehigh Country Club; Livingston Club, of
Allentown; Bryden Gun Club; the Railroad and Engineers Club, of New York City;
and vice-president of the Lehigh Valley Symphony Society.
On February 10, 1913,
George E. Holton passed away at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, New York City, and
his remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery. His widow, Jessica (Williams)
Holton departed this life on February 16, 1955 and her remains were interred at
Fairview Cemetery.
H. MORLEY HOLTON, son of George and Hope Mary (Coumbe) Holton,
was born at Grangy, near London, England, on July 15, 1879. At the age of
seventeen he followed his elder brother to America, first settling in
Brunswick, New Jersey for three years. In 1899 he removed to Catasauqua and
found employment at the Bryden Horse Shoe Company, and in 1909 he became
secretary of the firm upon the death of Tilghman Frederick. With the death of
his brother, George E. Holton, in 1913 he took over the duties of treasurer and
he later assumed the position of general manager. In 1928, with the purchase of
the Bryden Horse Shoe Company by the Phoenix Manufacturing Company, H. Morley
Holton was appointed plant manager, and he then directed the plant's activities
for about ten years. Upon his retirement he subsequently became an agent for
the Equitable Life Assurance Society and he remained the local agent until his
death.
In 1901 at Brunswick,
New Jersey, H. Morley Holton was united in marriage to Miss Anna Kane. Mr. and
Mrs. Holton resided at 326 Bridge Street until 1943, when they removed to 307
South Fifteenth Street, Allentown. During 1952 he returned to Catasauqua,
residing at 1125 Fifth Street.
During World War I he
was president of the Catasauqua Chapter, American Red Cross, and in 1942 he
served as chairman of the United Appeal campaign. H. Morley Holton served the
borough as Burgess for two terms, 1926 to 1934. He was a director of the
National Bank of Catasauqua and he was also one of the original members of the
Catasauqua Rotary Club, and a member of the Lehigh Country Club. He was
affiliated with Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church and he served on its
council.
H. Morley Holton passed
away in the Sacred Heart Hospital on December 12, 1956 and his remains were
interred at Fairview Cemetery. Anna (Kane) Holton had died on July 28, 1948 and
her remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery.
William P. Hopkins, son
of John and Anna (Powell) Hopkins, was born in South Wales, near Neath, in
Glamorganshire, March 24, 1832. At the age of eight he entered the employ of
the local rolling-mill, and upon reaching his eighteenth year he went to
Workington, Staffordshire, Wales, where he made the first sheet of tin ever
manufactured out of puddled steel. For this he received a watch from his
employer with the inscription: "Presented to William Hopkins for
meritorious services by James Spence, Workington, January 1, 1859." In
1860 he emigrated to America on the sailing-vessel "Middlesex," which
consumed thirty-nine days in crossing the Atlantic. Upon landing on American
shores Mr. Hopkins immediately went to Conshohocken, and for four years worked
in the sheet-iron mills of the Allen Wood Company.
In April 1864, William
P. Hopkins removed to Catasauqua and found employment in the rolling-mill of
the Catasauqua Manufacturing Company. In 1866 he was appointed superintendent
of the plant and he had the honor of manufacturing the first plate and the
first sheet ever rolled in the Lehigh Valley. In 1882 Mr. Hopkins erected a
large rolling mill at the company's Ferndale plant, Mill D, and at the same
time a smaller mill was added to the Catasauqua plant, Mill C. During 1869,
William P. Hopkins, in company with Oliver Williams and David Williams, purchased
the Union Foundry and Machine Company, and he remained associated with that
firm until 1891, when he sold his share to his partners. Although a stockholder
and superintendent of the Catasauqua Manufacturing Company he resigned from the
company in February 1890, in order to organize the Slatington Rolling Mill
Company, which was capitalized at $70,000, and he then served as General
Manager.
William P. Hopkins was
married in Wales, in 1855, to Miss Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of Thomas Thomas,
and this union was blessed with the following children: John W., born 1858,
served as Chief Burgess of Catasauqua during 1888-1890, removed to New York;
Thomas E., born June 14, 1860, died April 19, 1876; Louis P., born 1864,
engaged in business with his father at Slatington; David S., born July 31,
1866, died December 10, 1866; Winefred, born August, 1867; Elizabeth, born
November, 1873; Samuel D., M.D., removed to Denver, Colorado; and two children
that died in 1863.
William P. Hopkins
served in Company F, 43rd Pennsylvania Militia, enlisting on June 29, 1863,
serving with the Army of the Potomac during Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania,
discharged August 13, 1863. While residing in Catasauqua he and his family made
their home at 713 Front Street and they attended the Presbyterian Church. In
politics Mr. Hopkins was a staunch Republican and he enjoyed a wide reputation
among iron merchants all over the United States as one of the leading
manufacturers.
William P. Hopkins
departed this life on October 17, 1901 and his remains were interred in the
family plot at Fairview Cemetery. His wife, Elizabeth (Thomas) Hopkins had
passed away on May 26, 1888 and her remains were also interred at Fairview
Cemetery.
The ancestor of the Hunt
family who first arrived in America was Roger Hunt, having come from
Birmingham, England. He settled in Chester County with his wife, Esther Aston,
daughter of George and Elizabeth Aston. Among their sons was Samuel Hunt, whose
birth occurred on November 29, 1745. He was united in marriage to Mary Beale,
daughter of William and Mary Beale, and from this union were born five sons and
three daughters, one of which was Thomas Hunt, whose birth occurred on December
19, 1791, and he married Rachel Evans, daughter of William and Elizabeth Evans,
of Lancaster County. This union was blessed with the following children:
Elizabeth, wife of Aaron Baker; Mary, wife of Josiah Philips; Joshua, born May
14, 1820, of further mention; and Joseph, employed by the Lehigh Crane Iron
Works, serving as both assistant, superintendent and superintendent.
JOSHUA HUNT, son of Thomas and Rachel (Evans) Hunt, was
born in Chester County on the 13th of May 1820. He spent six years in
Philadelphia, where he attended the Quaker Boarding School at Westtown, Pennsylvania.
In 1836, he began his active business career at Harrisburg as superintendent of
a rolling-mill erected by his father. This property having been consumed by
fire in 1842, he returned to Philadelphia, and entered a rolling-mill there,
which was being operated by his father. After one year, in 1843 he removed to
Catasauqua and entered the office of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works.
After a brief interval
at Pougkeepsie, he returned to Catasauqua, and became assistant superintendent
of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works, in which capacity he acted until 1867, when he
was tendered the superintendency, and he served as such until December 31,
1881, when he severed his connection with the firm.
In 1873, Joshua Hunt
became associated with the Lehigh Fire Brick Company and he later served as its
chairman. He was an early stockholder in the Thomas Iron Company, and he was
one of the founders of the Bryden Horse Shoe Company in 1882 and he served as
president of the firm until 1884. He also served as a director of the National
Bank of Catasauqua; president of the Catasauqua Gas Company, which he helped
organize; chairman of Baker Lime Company, Limited; and for a time acted as
president of the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad.
On the 13th of August, 1844, Joshua Hunt was united in marriage with Gwenllian Thomas, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Hopkins) Thomas, and from this union were born the following children: Thomas, born August 18, 1845, served as assistant superintendent of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works from 1867
66
to 1872, died July 9, 1872 from injuries received
from a premature explosion at the iron works; Samuel,
born October 7, 1847, died March 12, 1871; John,
born January 22, 1850, died July 14, 1875; Elizabeth,
born April 29, 1852, married Robert Hopewell Hepburn,
died October 3, 1926; David, born August 26, 1854,
of further mention; Joshua, born June 26, 1856,
died September 1, 1912; Roger, M.D., born November
9, 1858, died February 18, 1890; William, born May
21, 1860, died June 19, 1873; George, born September
6, 1863, died September 11, 1879; Joseph, born August
9, 1865, died September 9, 1865; and Gwenllian,
married William Vollner. Gwenllian (Thomas) Hunt
passed away on October 23, 1875 and her remains
were placed in the Thomas vault at Fairview Cemetery.
Joshua Hunt was married, a second time on May 4,
1880, to Mrs. Hannah L. (Romig) May, daughter of
Dr. John Romig, of Allentown and widow of Cyrus
B. May. Joshua Hunt and his family resided at their
estate, located on the north side of Bridge Street,
lying between Second and Railroad Streets.
With Governor Curtin's
call for men during the emergency caused by Lee's invasion in the summer of
1863, Joshua Hunt enlisted in Co. B, 38th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
being elected Captain of the company. In politics he was early a Whig, and
subsequently he became a Republican. He was elected to the Catasauqua School
Board, serving from 1858 thru 1863. Joshua Hunt was a member of the First
Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, in which he officiated as an elder. Joshua
Hunt departed this life on July 18, 1886 and his remains were also placed in
the Thomas vault at Fairview Cemetery.
DAVID HUNT, son of Joshua and Gwenllian
(Thomas) Hunt, was born in Catasauqua on August
26, 1854. in his early years he attended the public
schools of the borough and he spent three years
in Swarthmore College in Chester County and one
year in Lafayette College.
In 1876 he went to
Oxmoor Furnace, Alabama, then under the management of James Thomas. In 1878, he
joined the Mackey, Scott and Company expedition to Brazil as a mechanical
engineer to construct a railroad along the Madeira River. This enterprise
proved a failure and David Hunt returned to Catasauqua, and, in 1879, entered
the employ of the Lehigh Fire Brick Company as manager. In 1892, David Hunt in
the company of Lucius H. McHose leased the plant and continued to manufacture
firebricks.
David Hunt was married
April 7, 1880, at Mobile, Alabama, to Miss Anna Manning, daughter of Hon. Amos
R. Manning, who was for many years Judge of the Supreme Court of Alabama. This
union was blessed with the following children: Roger, removed to Arizona;
Gwenllian Thomas, born October 1, 1885, died June 2, 1974; David, born
September 27, 1887, died March 21,1891; Stilwell, born August 10, 1889, died
August 11, 1890; Martha Manning, born August 25, 1890, died July 8, 1916;
Lewis, died November 4, 1893; Grace Manning; and Elizabeth, born May 27, 1896,
died May 30, 1896.
David Hunt was a member
of the Southwark Hose Company No. 9 from its organization in 1873 until his
death. In political views he was a Republican and was firm in his allegiance to
party principals. David Hunt passed away on February 26, 1898 and his remains
were placed in the Thomas vault at Fairview Cemetery. His widow, Anna (Manning)
Hunt departed this life on June 16, 1909 and her remains were also deposited in
the Thomas vault at Fairview Cemetery.
Captain William R. Jones
was born February 23, 1839, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. He was of Welsh
descent, his father, the Rev. John G. Jones being born in Brecon, Breconshire,
Wales on February 12, 1806. With his wife, Magdalene, who was born in
Ystradgynlais, Breconshire, Wales on February 26, 1809, and two children, he
emigrated to America in 1832, and first settled in Pittsburgh. The family
removed from Pittsburgh to Scranton, and later to Hazelton and Wilkes-Barre and
finally to Catasauqua.
Rev. John G. Jones was
the religious and intellectual leader of the Welsh community in the village of
Catasauqua. He earned his living as a pattern-maker for the Lehigh Crane Iron
Works and he resided in one of the "company homes" at No. 315 Church
Street. He was an educated man and he possessed a personal library of one
hundred and fifty volumes, the largest collection in the village. They were
mainly historical books, such as Plutarch and Josephus, with Shakespeare and
other miscellaneous classics. The Rev. John G. and Magdalene Jones were blessed
with the following children: David, born 1831, married Mersena Peter, daughter
of John Peter; Mary, born 1835; Margaret, born 1837; William R., born February
23, 1839; Rebecca S., born 1841; Sarah M., born 1843; John, born 1845; and John
born December 16, 1846, died September 18, 1847. Magdalene Jones passed away on
September 12, 1847 and her remains were interred at the church-yard cemetery,
they were later re-interred at Fairview Cemetery.
Rev. John G. Jones was
in ill health for several years and he passed away on April 27, 1853 and his
remains were later interred along with those of his wife at Fairview Cemetery.
Several years before his death, Captain William R. Jones erected a granite
monument over their graves at Fairview Cemetery.
William R. Jones
obtained a rudimentary education in the public grade schools of Catasauqua and
through the use of his father's personal library he continued his own
education. While attending school the young "Bill" Jones wrecked the
schoolhouse, because the teacher had unjustly whipped one of his schoolmates.
Owing to his father's
ill health he was compelled to commence work during the year of 1849, at the
age of ten years. He was apprenticed to the Lehigh Crane Iron Works in the
foundry department and later was placed in the machine shop of the company,
under the tutelage of Hopkin Thomas. By the time he arrived at the age of
fourteen, in 1853, he was receiving the full wages of a regular journeyman
machinist.
William R. Jones and James Thomas left Catasauqua and for several months they entered the employ of William Millens, who operated a machine shop at Janesville, Luzerne County. In 1856, they moved to Philadelphia, and worked as machinists in the shops of I. P. Morris & Company, where they worked on two large blast engines for the Lehigh Crane Iron Works, and they were sent to Catasauqua with the force of men to erect the same. After the completion of this work William R. Jones returned to Philadelphia. The Panic of 1857 compelled him to search for other employment and he engaged himself to a lumberman by the name of Evans, going with him to Clearfield County. He remained with Mr. Evans, as a farm hand, lumberman and raftsman, until the spring of 1858, when he entered the employ of a farmer named Ricketts. He then was employed as an engineer by the firm of Gibson Bros., near Glen Hope, Clearfield County, and later in the same capacity for William Levis, at Beccarja Mills. In the spring of 1859 he removed to Johnstown, and worked as a machinist for the Cambria Iron Company,
68
under John Fritz, then general superintendent of
the company. After working there three months he
was offered the position of master-mechanic by Giles
Edwards, who was engaged to build a blast-furnace
at Chattanooga, Tennessee. He accepted the offer
and removed to Chattanooga, where he remained until
the out break of the War Between the States, when
because of his outspoken loyalty to the Union he
was compelled to travel north with his young bride.
Returning to Johnstown, in 1861, William R. Jones
was again employed by the Cambria Iron Company as
a machinist.
On April 14, 1861,
William R. Jones and Miss Harriet Lloyd were wed at Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Four children were born to this union: the eldest Ella, died in 1864; William
M. C., was employed by the Edgar Thomson Steel Works as an engineer and
surveyor; Cora; and Charles, who died at a young age.
On July 31, 1862,
William R. Jones enlisted as a private in Co. A, 133rd Regiment, Pennsylvania
Volunteers, and on August 5, 1862, he was mustered in for nine months' service
and was promoted to corporal. The regiment was incorporated into the 5th Corps
of the Army of the Potomac and participated in the Fredericksburg and
Chancellorsville campaigns, being mustered out of service on May 24, 1863. He
returned to Johnstown, and, as skilled workmen were becoming very scarce, was
induced by George Fritz, the general superintendent of the works, to again
enter the employ of the Cambria Iron Company. Becoming dissatisfied with
remaining at home and impelled by his patriotic impulses, he organized Co. F,
194th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was mustered in as captain of that
organization on July 20, 1864, for one hundred days' service. On October 10,
1864, three weeks before the regiment's date of mustering out, he was
transferred to the 97th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He served as captain
of an independent company made up of men from the 193rd and 194th Regiments,
Pennsylvania Volunteers and he served as such until the company was mustered
out on June 17, 1865.
Upon returning home
Captain William R. Jones again entered the employ of the Cambria Iron Company
as assistant to George Fritz. While in the employ of the Cambria Iron Company
Captain Jones assisted in the construction of the company's Bessemer
steel-converting and blooming-mill plants. With the death of George Fritz, in
August of 1873, Daniel N. Jones was appointed superintendent over Captain
"Bill" Jones. Daniel N. Jones had learned his trade at the Lehigh
Crane Iron Works in Catasauqua and he also trained as a master-mechanic under
Hopkin Thomas. Captain "Bill" Jones resigned his position at the
Cambria Iron Works and left Johnstown. He was then hired as a master-mechanic
by the Edgar Thomson Steel Company at Braddock, near Pittsburgh, to help erect
their steel works and rail-mill. Upon the completion of the works, the owner,
Andrew Carnegie, hired Captain "Bill" Jones as the general manager
and afterwards he was given the full charge of the engineering department.
In 1875, surrounded by
his faithful men from Johnstown, Captain Jones began to show the world how to
make steel. He broke all the records for steel production, not only in America
but also in Great Britain. In his first fifteen months of steelmaking, Captain
"Bill" Jones turned out nearly twice as much steel as any one had
made before with a plant of equal size. He continued to increase his production
and to set new records for production year after year. When the British Iron
and Steel Institute met in 1881, a paper written by Captain William R. Jones
was read by its secretary. In the paper Captain Jones modestly ascribed his
success to the following five causes:
First,
the employment of men who were young and ambitious.
Second,
the "strong but pleasant rivalry" between different plants.
Third,
the employment of mixed nationalities.
69
Fourth,
the eight-hour day. "Flesh and blood cannot stand twelve hours of
continuous work."
Fifth,
the use of the most up-to-date machinery.
Captain "Bill"
Jones asked for and received "a hell of a big salary" from Andrew
Carnegie, who's known policy was not to pay any employee more than five
thousand dollars per annum, but to bind the worker to the company by issuing
him shares in the company. Captain Jones was rewarded with a salary of
twenty-five thousand dollars, a salary equal to that of the President of the United
States, and along with a percentage on the product of the mill, his income was
almost fifty thousand dollars a year.
During his tenure at the
Edgar Thomson Works he built Furnaces A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, and H and I were
in the course of erection at the time of his death. The improvements and
inventions that Captain William R. Jones produced there made those furnaces the
finest in the world. Captain "Bill" Jones' inventions were numerous;
the first was patented on June 12, 1876, for "Washers for Ingot
Molds." His other important patents were a devise for operating ladles in
the Bessemer process and an "Improvements in Hose Couplings," both
patented December12, 1876; "Fastenings for Bessemer Converters,"
December 26, 1876; "Hot Bed for Bending Rails," April 10, 1877;
"Process and Apparatus for compressing Ingots while Casting,"
September, 1878; "Ingot Molds," October 1, 1878; "Cooling Roll
Journals and Shafts," July 5, 1881; "Feeding Appliance for Rolling
Mills," April 27, 1886; "Art of Manufacturing Railroad Bars,"
October 12, 1886; "Appliance for Rolls," May 15, 1888;
"Apparatus for Removing and Setting Rolls," June 26, 1888;
"Housing Caps for Rolls," May 15, 1888; "Roll Housing,"
August 21, 1888; "Apparatus for removing Ingots from Molds," January
1, 1889. His last and most important invention was a method and a device for
mixing metal taken direct from several blast-furnaces, and charged into two
large receiving-tanks, each capable of holding eighty tons of molten metal.
After the metal is thoroughly mixed it is poured into ladles and taken to the
converting-works. The device, known as the "Jones Mixer" was put into
operation in September of 1888, and letters of patent were allowed but were not
yet issued at the time of his death.
Captain William R. Jones
was a liberal giver to charities, and widows and families of deceased
employees, giving away approximately ten thousand dollars a year. The day after
the Johnstown Flood on May 31, 1889, Captain "Bill" Jones took three
hundred of his men, at his own expense, to the wrecked city, where they worked
for two weeks to help restore the property that had been destroyed.
In 1887, Captain 'Bill'
Jones and James Thomas arranged a gathering of the friends who had lived in
Catasauqua thirty years past. The meeting took place at Onoko Glen and on the
preceding day, the group went to Mauch Chunk and took a trip over the
"Switchback Railroad." From there the group went on to Onoko Glen,
where a fine dinner was partaken of at the Wahnetah Hotel, after which the
evening was spent in reminiscing.
Captain William R. Jones
was a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Society of Western Pennsylvania, and the
Iron and Steel Institute of Great Britain. He was a prominent and active member
of the G. A. R. and in 1888 was chosen Senior Vice Department Commander of
Pennsylvania, and he was a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he was
an unswerving Republican, but in local politics he was a believer in the man
rather than the party. In religious matters he was a liberal, and was not
connected with any church organization, and although reared a Presbyterian, he
was a supporter of the Methodist Evangelical Church.
On Thursday evening,
September 26, 1889, Captain William R. Jones accompanied Superintendent James
Gayley to Furnace C, which had not been working properly all day. Several of
the employees were tapping the cinder, in an instant a section of about a foot
in dimension about seven feet above their heads, fell out, and a stream of hot
coal and metal poured upon the group. Captain Jones in his endeavor to escape
fell between a stone wall and a cinder car, striking his head on the car. His
face and hands were also severely burned. One of the employees at once shut off
the blast to the furnace, and the flame ceased. James Tolan, formally of
Catasauqua, was in the machine shop nearby, and when he saw Captain
"Bill" Jones lying amongst the cinder, he ran in and carried him out.
Captain Jones was carried to the company office where he conversed in a dazed
manner, while physicians were dressing his burns. He was then taken to the
Homeopathic Hospital in Pittsburgh and upon his reaching the hospital his mind
commenced to wander, and he remained in a semiconscious state until he died at
10:30 o'clock Saturday night, September 28, 1889.
The funeral of Captain
William R. Jones was held at 2:30 o'clock on Wednesday, October 2, 1889, and
was attended by General Alger, National Commander of the Grand Army of the
Republic, and his staff and Commander Stewart and his staff of the Department
of Pennsylvania; approximately ten thousand workmen; widows and orphans; and
the greatest steel manufacturers of the country came to pay their last
respects. From the Lehigh Valley were Superintendents John Fritz and Owen
Leibert, of the Bethlehem Steel Works; Samuel, John and David H. Thomas, of the
Thomas Iron Works; George Davies and James Thomas of Davies and Thomas Company;
Daniel Milson of Catasauqua, while Rev. Cornelius Earle D. D., of the First
Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, assisted in the funeral ceremonies, and
spoke of the Captain's early manhood.
The honorary
pall-bearers were Andrew Carnegie, New York; Henry C. Frick, Pittsburgh; Robert
W. Hunt, Chicago; Owen Leibert, Bethlehem; Andrew Hamilton, Johnstown; and
James Thomas, Catasauqua. The casket, which remained close, was borne by
employees of the Edgar Thomson Works, amongst who was James Tolan. The remains
were placed in a vault at the Monongahela Cemetery.
Milton O. Knauss, son of George F. and Annie (Hittle) Knauss, was born at Macungie, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1885. He was educated in the East Macungie public schools, and in July 1898, he began learning the profession of chemistry in the laboratory of the Crane Iron Works. After serving about one year he accepted a position of chief chemist with the Allentown Rolling Mills, but after he filled this position for three months, Leonard Peckitt, president of the Empire Steel and Iron Company, asked him to accept a similar position with his company in the laboratory of the Crane Iron Works at an advanced salary. He filled this position satisfactorily until he was promoted to the superintendency of the Macungie furnace, then owned by the Empire Steel and Iron Company. In September 1911, the company sent him to start up their furnace at Topton, and he continued there until December 1911, when he was appointed superintendent of the Crane Iron Works, and he served as such until 1923, when the furnace was put out of blast. He then became foreman in the plate and machine shop of the Fuller-Lehigh Company, remaining there for two years, when he accepted a position as foreman in the pipe foundry of R. D. Wood and Company at Florence, New Jersey. Milton O. Knauss returned to Catasauqua and was appointed general manager of the Davies and Thomas Company, and in
71
1939, in the company of Frederick J. Walker and
S. M. Rutledge, he formed the Catasauqua Machine
Works, and he remained connected with this firm
until October 1950, when the company ceased operations.
He then became foreman in the machine shop of the
Fuller Company, remaining there until retiring in
1956.
On September 24, 1904,
Milton O. Knauss was wedded to Ada DeLong, daughter of Tilghman and Angelina (Fenstermacher)
DeLong, of Topton. From this union were born the following children: a
Daughter, died January 1, 1908; Mabel Isabella, married Meade Detweiler; Rhea
A., born 1913, died 1916; Jeanne, married Theodore Redman; and a Son, died
November 17, 1920.
Milton O. Knauss served
the borough in various capacities, as a member of the school board, of which he
was president; borough council and the Board of Health; and as a member of the
board of managers of the Fairview Cemetery Association. Mr. and Mrs. Knauss
reside for a time at 507 Walnut Street and later at 323 Bridge Street, and they
were members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
Milton O. Knauss passed
away in Northampton Hospital on November 16, 1966 and his remains were interred
at Fairview Cemetery. Ada (DeLong) Knauss preceded her husband in death by two
days dying on November 14, 1966 and her remains were also interred at Fairview
Cemetery.
Howard A. Knauss, born October 14, 1876, son of George F. Knauss,
and older brother of Milton O. Knauss, learned telegraphy and chemistry at the
Macungie furnace, after which he was employed in the laboratory of the Crane
Iron Works, becoming chief chemist. He was later appointed assistant
superintendent and then superintendent of the Crane Iron Works, continuing
there for eight years. Afterwards he became superintendent of the Northern Iron
Company's furnace at Standish, New York, remaining there seven months. He then
became re-associated with the Empire Steel and Iron Company at their Henry Clay
Furnace at Reading, Pennsylvania, and in 1909 he was appointed superintendent
of the Reading Iron Company's furnaces. While residing at Catasauqua he was a
member of the borough council and he served as its president for two years.
Richard O. Kohler was
born in Chemnitz, Germany, October 27, 1872. He was educated in the schools of
his native town, which afforded him an excellent advantage for his chosen
vocation, that of a business career. In June 1893, he emigrated to America and
found employment as a clerk in the Unicorn Silk Mill. He subsequently engaged
with the Bryden Horse Shoe Company, and for several years he served as general
manager of the Catasauqua Casting Company. For a very short period he acted as
general sales agent of the Lehigh Clutch Company and traveled extensively in
locating their sales.
On October 31, 1902,
Richard O. Kohler wed Miss Grace Williams, daughter of Oliver and Anna (Heilig)
Williams, and this union was blessed with one daughter, Anna H., born May 24,
1904, married a Mr. Eastman, issue: (Grace Eastman, born January 14, 1930; and
Charles Kohler Eastman, born October 3, 1931), died June 8, 1975.
Richard O. Kohler was a
prominent official of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Catasauqua and a
member of Porter Lodge No. 284, F. and A. M., and of the Catasauqua Club. He
and his family resided at Fourth and Pine Streets, southeast corner, and they
spent three months during the summer of 1913 traveling Europe and in visiting
his brother, who resided in Chemnitz, Germany.
Richard O. Koehler died
in the German Hospital, Philadelphia, on October 30, 1913 and his remains were interred
at Fairview Cemetery. Grace (Williams) Kohler later married Pelham Harding and
she passed away on October 10, 1945, her remains being buried at Fairview
Cemetery. Mr. Harding departed this life on June 2, 1947 and his remains were
also interred at Fairview Cemetery.
JOHN LEIBERT, son of Henry and Catherine (Knauss) Leibert,
was born at Leibert's Gap, in Milford Township, Lehigh County, on October 3,
1807. He married Catherine Ovens Tice, daughter of John and Marian (Hackett)
Tice. She was a native of New York City and was born on March 22, 1808. This
union produced the following children: Mary Ann, born June 6, 1830, married James
Nevins, died December 6, 1882; William Henry, born 1835, master mechanic for
the Bethlehem Iron Company; Owen F., born August 27, 1836, of further mention;
Sarah Jane, born January 21, 1841, died November 23, 1916; and Gwenny Pauline,
born August 31, 1843, married Jonathan Price, died June 9, 1881.
John Leibert resided
near Koehler's Lock (Lock No. 37), located south of Biery's Port. He was
employed as a boss carpenter for the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company,
repairing canal boats at their boat-yard near the lock. He later was employed
as a mill-wright and miller at Biery's Port, and when the furnaces were erected
he was hired to take charge of the water power machinery, used to operate the
blowing engines for the hot blast and to pump water to the company's reservoir.
He removed his family to Wood Street in 1841, and on the day he moved to
Catasauqua, he was asked by Samuel Glace where he was going. He answered rather
ironically "Oh, to Craneville, and now I suppose my daughters will marry Irishmen."
His eldest daughter became the wife of James Nevins.
John Leibert died on
April 1, 1845 and his remains were interred at Schoenersville Cemetery. His
widow, Catherine Leibert built a home at 221 Front Street and there she resided
until her death on February 25, 1898. Her remains were interred in a family
plot at Fairview Cemetery.
OWEN LEIBERT, son of John and Catherine (Tice) Leibert, was
born in Hanover Township, Lehigh County on August 27, 1836. His earliest years
were spent near Koehler's Lock (Lock No. 37), south of Catasauqua, and he
removed with his family to Catasauqua proper in 1841. There he attended the
local public schools until he was eleven years of age, when he was obliged to
go to work. On the death of his father, in 1845, he was not yet nine years old,
and David Thomas, superintendent of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works, became his
legal guardian. He worked under the guidance of that gentleman and his sons,
Samuel and John Thomas, from the age of eleven until he was twenty-one years
old. At the age of thirteen he entered the blacksmith shop to learn the
business, and in a short time he became foreman of the shop. He then went to
Norristown and there he engaged in manufacturing.
On January 16, 1863, Mr.
Leibert removed to Bethlehem, where he found employment as a blacksmith for the
Bethlehem Iron Works, and later he worked as a machinist with his elder
brother, William Henry Leibert, who was employed as a master mechanic at the
Bethlehem Iron Works. On or about 1871 he returned to Catasauqua and there he
was employed as a foreman in the car shops for sixteen months, on the
expiration of which time he when back to Bethlehem and became a draftsman for
the Bethlehem Iron Company, and afterward foreman in the steel works, where he
was employed for twelve years. He next went to Wheeling, West Virginia, where
he was employed by the Riverside Iron Works for nine months. In 1886 he
received the position of assistant engineer to John Fritz, under whom he had
served off and on from 1863 to 1892, during which time Mr. Fritz was general
superintendent and chief engineer of the Bethlehem Iron Company. Owen F.
Leibert was appointed general superintendent of the Bethlehem Iron Company in
January 1893, upon the retirement of John Fritz.
In Germantown,
Pennsylvania, January 28, 1864, Owen F. Leibert was united in marriage with
Miss Mary M. Warner, daughter of Benjamin Warner. Mr. and Mrs. Leibert resided
in a fine mansion on Market Street, Bethlehem. In politics he voted with the
Republican Party, and he held an interest in the First National Bank of
Bethlehem and was a stockholder in the Bethlehem Iron Company.
JAMES HARPER MCKEE was born on February 14, 1818. He was a member
of a prominent Luzerne County family and in 1868, in the company of his brother-in-law,
James W. Fuller II, formed the firm of McKee, Fuller and Company, which then
took over the operations of the Lehigh Car, Wheel and Axle Works at Ferndale
(Fullerton).
James H. McKee was
united in wedlock to Miss Mary Thomas, daughter of Hopkin and Catherine
(Richards) Thomas, and from this union were born the following children:
Katherine Sarah, born February 10, 1849, died October 27, 1849; Joseph J.,
resided at Bethlehem; William Weir, born December 27, 1852, of further mention;
Mary Norton, born August 6, 1856, died October 19, 1912; Llewelyn T., resided
at Philadelphia; Helen Thomas, born June 28, 1864, died August 5, 1876; and
Edith, born January 2, 1868, married Louis Duncan, died March 3, 1946.
James H. McKee passed
away at his home in Philadelphia on November 5, 1895 and his earthly remains
were laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery. Mary (Thomas) McKee had passed away on
January 14, 1891 and her remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery.
WILLIAM WEIR McKEE, second son of James H. and Mary (Thomas)
McKee, was born December 27, 1852, in Jersey City, New Jersey. His parents
moved to Philadelphia where he spent his boyhood days. After graduating with
honors from a Polytechnic School in Philadelphia, he went to Germany where he
was enrolled in the University of Freilberg as a student in mining engineering,
graduating after two years of study.
Upon returning from
Germany, William W. McKee found employment with the Eckley Coxe Coal Company as
a mining engineer. After some years of efficient service with this enterprising
company he associated himself with the Lehigh Car, Wheel and Axle Works and in
1883 he was taken in as a stockholder.
On April 8, 1890,
William W. McKee married his cousin, Ruth Thomas, daughter of James and Mary
Ann (Davies) Thomas. This happy union was blessed with the following children:
Ruth Thomas, born November, 1891, married John McVey, died November 3, 1965;
James H., born May 25, 1893, served in the U. S. Army as a Second Lieutenant,
ordnance during World War I, died July 14, 1919; Katherine, born April 24,
1895, died April 25, 1895; and Mary, born February, 1899, married Thomas Day
Shannahan, died May 1, 1967.
William W. McKee and his
family resided at 605 Fourth Street, and socially he was affiliated with the
Porter Lodge, No. 284, F. and A. M., and was a Grand Master. He was also a
member of the Lulu Temple, Philadelphia, and the Catasauqua Club. In politics
he was a staunch Republican.
William W. McKee
departed this life on June 28, 1905 and his mortal remains were interred in the
McKee family plot at Fairview Cemetery. His widow, Ruth (Thomas) McKee
continued to reside in the family home at Fourth and Pine Streets until she
passed away on March 1, 1966 and her remains were also interred at Fairview
Cemetery.
DANIEL MILSON was born in Neath, Glamorganshire, South Wales,
February 28, 1830, a son of Charles and Rachel (Thomas) Milson, he was reared
in his native country and educated in the common schools of his native town. At
the age of sixteen he arranged with his maternal uncle, Joseph Thomas, to learn
the boiler-making trade. Becoming one of the best mechanics in his own shire,
he found employment at the Neath shipyards and remained there until 1852, when
he left his native land for America. Landing in New York after a long voyage of
more than three months, he removed to Philadelphia, where he entered the employ
of Merrick and Son, and later he entered the service of the United States naval
yard as a boilermaker.
In 1854, Daniel Milson
came to Catasauqua and for two years was employed by the Lehigh Crane Iron
Works, and after dissolving this connection he was employed by the Thomas Iron
Company in the erection of their furnaces at Hokendauqua, becoming a
stockholder in the company in 1862. In the later part of the year 1863, in
company with David Thomas, Jr., he went to Ohio, where they erected a furnace
of which he served as assistant superintendent until 1865. In the later part of
that year Daniel Milson returned to Catasauqua and he leased the boiler shop of
the Lehigh Crane Iron Works and there he opened a shop on his own account,
employing fifty men. He supplied the furnaces in the Lehigh Valley with the
finest production of his skill and he operated the business until his
retirement in 1890.
In 1861, Daniel Milson was united in marriage to Elizabeth Davies, a native of Wales, who bore him eleven children, as follows: Thomas H., born 1862, was employed as a steel pipe maker at Paterson, New Jersey; Charles Edwin, M.D., born August 10, 1863, died January 1, 1949, married Camilla Deily,
75
issue: (Ruth D., born March 2, 1884, died April
4, 1980; Gertrude, born 1888, died 1984; Helen,
born July 22, 1892, married E. Sommerville Johnson,
died January 6, 1951; and Marie, born September
6, 1895, died May 15, 1903); Annie N., born September
25, 1865, married John W. Thomas, died June 4, 1938;
Elizabeth, born February 5, 1868, died May 5, 1946;
David Thomas, born December 25, 1869, drowned in
the canal, May 11, 1877; Minnie, born 1871, married
William R. Thomas, Jr., died 1924; Joseph, born
June 30, 1873, died October 24, 1972; Daniel, born
July 22, 1875, operated a coal business in South
Catasauqua, died June 29, 1957; Henry D., born February
7, 1878, died August 23, 1892; Mabel, born 1879,
married James S. Stillman, died 1975; and Eleanor,
married John M. Fritzgerald.
Daniel Milson and his
family resided at the southeast corner of Second and Chapel Streets and they
were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua. In politics Mr.
Milson was a staunch Republican. Daniel Milson passed away on February 9, 1905
and his remains were buried at Fairview Cemetery. Elizabeth (Davies) Milson had
passed away on January 11, 1894 and her remains were buried at Fairview
Cemetery.
Leonard Peckitt was born
April 17, 1860, at Canton Hall, Yorkshire, England. He was the eldest of nine
children comprising the family of Leonard F. and Frances (Quickfall) Peckitt.
His early training was by private tutor and he later studied at Masham Grammer
School, after which he spent four years under the tutelage of Professor W. F.
Stock, County Analyst at Darlington, Durham County.
In June of 1882, Mr.
Peckitt crossed the Atlantic, and arriving in Philadelphia, was soon engaged by
the Reading Iron Works as their chemist. After that firm failed in April 1886,
he spent a month in the employ of the Allentown Iron Company as a chemist.
Later he took charge of the laboratory of the Crane Iron Works and he served as
chemist for approximately one year. In the fall of 1888 he was chosen assistant
superintendent, and at the same time he also took charge of the Edge Hill
Furnace, in Montgomery County, and the furnace at Macungie, both of which had
been leased by the Crane Iron Company. In 1891 he was promoted to superintendent
and in 1894, after the company had been put in the hands of its receivers, he
was elected president. In 1899, Mr. Peckitt took an active part in the
formation of the Empire Steel and Iron Company and he was elected president of
this enterprise, which proceeded to acquire furnaces, and iron ore and coal
reserves, one of which was the Crane Iron Works. On April 10, 1922, the Empire
Steel and Iron Company was taken over by the Replogle Steel Company, with
Leonard Peckitt then being elected president. In his business affairs he also
served as a director and vice-president of the National Bank of Catasauqua,
director and president of the Davies and Thomas Company, director of the Bryden
Horse Shoe Company, director of the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad, director
of Lehigh Valley Transit Company, and vice-president of the Pottstown Iron
Company.
In Reading, in 1889, Leonard Peckitt was united in marriage with Hattie Madeline Weilder, daughter of Emanuel Weilder. This union was blessed by one child, a son, Leonard Carlton Peckitt, born November 16, 1890. He was known as Carl" to his friends and he attended Lafayette College and Cornell University. During 1914 he became ill with bronchial pneumonia and he traveled to Arizona for his
76
health. After returning home he died on January
15, 1916, and his remains were interred at Fairview
Cemetery.
Leonard Peckitt and his
family, while living in Catasauqua, resided at 234 Walnut Street. He was an
organizer and leader of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church of Catasauqua and he
served as senior warden for fifty years. He served as a trustee of St. Luke's
Hospital, trustee of the Allentown State Hospital, vice-president of the Lehigh
Country Club, and president of the Old Home Week Association. He was also a
member of the American Iron and Steel Institute, American Institute of Mining
Engineers, Iron and Steel Institute of Great Britain, and he held a fellowship
in the Chemical Society of London, England.
Leonard Peckitt and his
wife removed from Catasauqua and took up residency at 2145 Livingston Street,
Allentown, and there he passed away on July 21, 1952 and his remains were
interred at Fairveiw Cemetery. His widow, Hattie M. (Weilder) Peckitt departed
this life on November 19, 1952 and her remains were also interred at Fairview
Cemetery.
Jacob Roberts was born
in Marbletown, Ulster County, New York, on October 3, 1832 and he attended the
local common schools. He supplemented his education by reading standard works
on various subjects, chiefly mathematical and mechanical. He then taught school
for several years, after which he entered the ranks of mechanical scientists
and spent fifteen years acquiring a practical knowledge of blacksmithing,
carpentering, painting and machinery. He was engaged for some years in the
carriage-making business and also indoor blind and sash manufacturing, in
Brooklyn, New York, and for a time he served as a consulting engineer and
mechanical expert in the cities of New York and Brooklyn.
In 1883, he purchased
the Hudson River Rolling Mill at Poughkeepsie and, in company with Charles
Miller and the Crossman Brothers of New York City, organized the Phoenix
Horseshoe Company and began the manufacture of horse and mule shoes. In August
1889, Mr. Roberts severed his connection with the Phoenix Horseshoe Company of
Poughkeepsie and became superintendent of the Bryden Horse Shoe Company, and
there he remained until his death. During his tenure the company met with
phenomenal success and more than once the company had to double the capacity of
the plant in order to meet the demand for its product.
On September 18, 1855,
Jacob Roberts was married to Miss Catherine L. Relyea of Clintondale, New York,
and their married life was blessed with the following children: Frances D.,
born May 11, 1856, died December 19, 1930, married Woodruff H. Simonson, issue:
(a daughter who married a Mr. Hamilton, issue: a son, born at Montclair, New
Jersey, March 16, 1916, named John Hamilton, a.k.a. Sterling Hayden, died May
23, 1986); William B., born December 2, 1861, died January 7, 1937; Eva M.,
died in infancy; Ida T., died in infancy; and Vina, born February 22, 1867,
married Austin A. Glick, Esq., died July 21, 1944.
Jacob Roberts was a member of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Catasauqua, and he departed this life on November 18, 1905. His remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery. His widow, Catherine
77
(Relyea) Roberts passed away on October 26, 1920
and her remains were also interred at Fairview Cemetery.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SWARTZ was a direct descendant of Nicolaus
Schwartz, the progenitor of this family in America, who took the oath of
allegiance at Philadelphia on September 3, 1739, and he settled in Longswamp
Township, Berks County, near the present borough of Topton, in 1740, purchasing
three hundred acres of land from the Penn heirs. He was a shoemaker by trade.
Nicolaus Schwartz and his wife were the parents of the following children:
Daniel, born April 14, 1746, died January 7, 1815; Sarah; Christian, of further
mention; Nicholas; Mary Elizabeth; John; and Samuel.
CHRISTIAN SCHWARTZ, son of Nicolaus Schwartz, was born in
Longswamp Township. During the year of 1787, he removed to Northampton County
and settled along the Lehigh River, near Dry Run. He was a member of St. John's
Reformed Church at Howertown. Christian Schwartz was the father of John Swartz,
born May 2, 1786, of further mention.
JOHN SWARTZ, son of Christian Schwartz, was born at
Longswamp on May 2, 1786, and he came to the area later known as "Swartz's
Dam" with his parents while still an infant. During his business career he
was a farmer and a tavern-keeper. John Swartz was a member of St. John's
Reformed Church at Howertown, and he was a Whig in politics. John Swartz served
as a captain of the Allen Light Horse during the War of 1812.
John Swartz was twice
married, first to Sarah Mickley, with whom he had four children: William;
Joseph, born 1812, died 1883, he came to Catasauqua in 1856 and with his
half-brother, James W. Swartz, operated a dry-goods, notions, grocery and
hardware store, which traded under the name J. and J. W. Swartz; Isabella, born
October 2, 1814, died May 6, 1880, married Samuel Glace, issue: (William H.
Glace Esq. and Amanda Glace, wife of Dr. Daniel Yoder); and Nathan. The second
marriage was to Catherine Heller and to this union were born the following
children: Eliza, born August 21, 1818, died November 13, 1889, married Hon.
Joseph Laubach, issue: (James Laubach: Mary Laubach, married Dr. Molton E.
Hornbeck; and a daughter, married Congressman Edward Klotz); Rebecca; John,
first photographer (daguerreotypes) in Catasuqua, died 1852; Owen, born
February 24, 1823, died November 17, 1876, started a lumber business on Front
Street in 1853, which later became F. W. Wint and Company; Edwin, died in
infancy; Daniel, died in infancy; Polly; Selinda, born June 18, 1831, died
December 11, 1912, married Rev. Christian Bliem of Allentown; James W., born
1833, died 1890, partner with his half-brother in the emporium of J. and J. W.
Swartz; Christian, born 1836, died 1909; Benjamin Franklin, born April 7, 1838,
of further mention; and Sarah. John Swartz departed this life on October 5,
1854 and his remains were interred at Greenwood Cemetery, Howertown.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SWARTZ, son of John and Catherine (Heller) Swartz, was born, April 7, 1838, on the family farm at "Swartz's Dam," below Dry Run. He obtained a fair education in the district schools, and with the death of his father he began clerking in a store at Hokendauqua at the age of sixteen. A year later he was thus employed for six months at Bloomsburg and at the expiration of that
78
time he came
to Catasauqua and took charge of William Miller's
store for a period of six months. He then entered
the Wyoming Seminary, where he carried on his studies
during the winter of 1856-1857, after which he went
to Allentown. During the fall of 1858 he went to
Ohio, where for two and one-half years he clerked
in a store in Wyandot County. He then established
his own firm in partnership with a Mr. Peck. He
carried on this business at Carey, Ohio, until the
fall of 1865, when he disposed of his interest and
formed a partnership with his brother, Christian
Swartz. The firm then traded as B. F. & C. Swartz,
and they engaged in the dry-goods business. B. F.
Swartz left Ohio, coming to Catasauqua in 1869,
and there he was engaged by McKee, Fuller and Company
as their traveling salesman. During 1883 he was
taken into the company as a stockholder and he remained
connected with this firm until January 1, 1909,
when he retired from active business.
On November 27, 1861,
Benjamin Franklin Swartz was united in marriage to Miss Anna Louise Dow,
daughter of Alvin Dow of Carey, Ohio. This union was blessed with two children:
Maude O., born August 14, 1865, married George W. Graffin, died March 6, 1935;
and Alvin Franklin D., born June 16, 1881, died April 17, 1886.
During the Civil War,
Benjamin Franklin Swartz showed his devotion to his country by volunteering in
the 144th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he was promoted to sergeant major of
that regiment. B. F. Swartz was a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of
Catasauqua, and in politics he was an ardent Republican. He also served as a
director of the Lehigh National Bank of Catasauqua. Mr. and Mrs. Swartz resided
on Third Street, at the Chestnut Street intersection, southeast corner.
On April 8, 1909,
Benjamin Franklin Swartz departed this life and his remains were interred at
Fairview Cemetery. His widow, Anna Louise (Dow) Swartz passed away in 1928 and
her remains were also interred at Fairview Cemetery.
DAVID
THOMAS, who was born on
November 3, 1794, was the son of David and Jane Thomas, of Tyllwyd (Grey House)
Farm, in the parish of Cadoxton-juxta-Neath, Glamorganshire, South Wales. David
Thomas, the father, was a small farmer, but a highly respectable man in his
parish, and, although a Dissenter, he held the office of church-warden for some
years, and was overseer of the poor of his parish for sixteen years. He was a
consistent and exemplary member of the "Independents" Religious
Community at Maesyrhaf Chapel, Neath, for forty years, and his wife, who
survived him twenty years, was for sixty years a member of the same
organization. Both were buried in the burying-ground attached to the
above-named place of worship. David and Jane Thomas were the parents of four
children, three daughters and one son, David Thomas.
The younger David Thomas' religious and moral training was, therefore, of the strictest kind, and being the only son his parents afforded him the best education their means would allow. He attended schools in both Alitwen and Neath, and he applied himself with industry and perseverance, outstripping all of his schoolmates. His thirst for knowledge and improvement had awakened an ambitious feeling, which farming operations failed to satisfy. He, therefore, sought employment at seventeen years of age at the Neath Abbey Iron Works. For five years he worked in the fitting-shops and at the blast furnaces,
79
asserting his superiority
and intelligence. He performed his duties so well
that in 1817 he was invited by Richard Parsons,
owner of the Yniscedvyn Iron Works in the Swansea
Valley, to be his superintendent of his works, including
the company's coal and iron mines. Almost immediately
after he obtained this position, Richard Parsons
and his brother, Samuel, suffered financial difficulties
and the works were taken over by Mr. Haines, a banker
from Swansea, who was the mortgagee. During this
period the furnaces were only operated sporadically,
and in 1823 the works were sold to George Crane
of Broomsgrove, Worcestershire. David Thomas remained
as superintendent throughout all of these changes
and he served as such for a total of twenty-two
years
As early as 1820, David Thomas was experimenting
with anthracite coal as a fuel for his furnaces, but with little or no success.
After James Neilson's invention of the hot blast, both David Thomas and George
Crane renewed their interest in the use of anthracite coal, and after obtaining
plans and a license from Mr. Neilson to use his hot blast process, Mr. Thomas,
with Mr. Crane's consent, went to work and built ovens for heating the blast in
September, 1836. They declared on February 7 1837, the problem of production of
iron with the use of anthracite coal practically solved. The Yniscedwyn
furnaces produced from thirty-four to thirty-six tons of iron per week.
The Lehigh Crane Iron Company, which had been
formed by members of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, sent a
representative, Erskine Hazard, to Wales to investigate and study the operation
of the hot blast process. Mr. Hazard entered into an agreement with David
Thomas on behalf of the Lehigh Crane Iron Company on the thirty-first day of December
1838, to come to America and to erect and to operate blast furnaces, suitable
for anthracite coal, on the Lehigh River.
David Thomas landed at New York on June 5,
1839, and shortly afterward arrived at Catasauqua, where he erected the first
commercially and technologically successful furnace in the United States to use
exclusively anthracite coal as fuel. He remained in charge of the Lehigh Crane
Iron Works until 1855, and during that period he erected and operated five
furnaces. After retiring from the office of superintendent, he remained with
the company as cashier until 1865.
Mr. Thomas was instrumental in the
organization of the Thomas Iron Company in 1854, which was named in his honor.
In 1854, with William Michel, he purchased the Union Foundry and Machine
Company, later acquiring total ownership. He sold this enterprise to Messrs.
Williams and Mr. Hopkins in 1869. David Thomas was one of the founders of the
Catasauqua Manufacturing Company in 1863 and he served as president from its
founding until 1879.
During 1868, David Thomas, along with Oliver
Ritter and Samuel McHose, organized the Lehigh Fire Brick Company, and in 1873,
after Messrs. Ritter and McHose retired from the firm, Mr. Thomas then
associated with his sons and son-in-law, Samuel Thomas, John Thomas and Joshua
Hunt, and he retained a financial interest in the firm until his death. In
addition to his interest in the Lehigh Crane Iron Works and the Thomas Iron
Company, Mr. Thomas was also a stockholder in the Carbon Iron Company at
Parryville, Pennsylvania. He served as president of the Catasauqua and
Fogelsville Railroad for many years, and he also served as a director of the
Lehigh Valley Railroad. He was a trustee and executive member of St Luke's
Hospital, and a trustee of Lafayette College. In 1857 he was one of the organizers
of the National Bank of Catasauqua, in which he had a large amount of stock,
and he served for many years as one of its directors.
David Thomas was united in marriage to Miss
Elizabeth Hopkins, daughter of John Hopkins, and to this union were born the
following children: Jane, born May 1, 1820, died October 11, 1899; Gwenllian,
born February 28, 1824, married Joshua Hunt, died October 23, 1875; Samuel,
born March 13, 1827, of further mention; John, born September 10, 1829, of
further mention; and David, born February 5, 1837, died November 10, 1862. Mr.
and Mrs. Thomas resided first in a two-story house built by the Lehigh Crane
Iron Company, located at the southeast corner of Front and Church Streets. In
1856 he erected his own home at the southeast corner of Second and Pine
Streets. He later erected another dwelling at the southeast corner of Third and
Pine Streets for members of his family. Always active and concerned with the
welfare-of the community, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were fondly called "Father"
Thomas and "Mother" Thomas.
Shortly after his arrival in 1839, David
Thomas set out to organize a church to attend to the spiritual needs of the
village. The First Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua was then organized and
established on the north side of Church Street, near Howertown Road. Church
services were held in Mr. Thomas' home until the completion of the chapel on
March 22, 1840. After several years the church became to small, and David
Thomas again became instrumental in erecting a new and larger edifice at the
northeast corner of Second and Pine Streets, which opened for worship in 1856.
David Thomas was particularly solicitous of establishing the practice of
temperance in the growing community and in 1845 two lodges were organized one
for adults called the George Crane Division, and the other for boys, called the
Crystal Fount Section, No. 2. The organizations were active for twelve years,
before disbanding in 1857.
Through the encouragement of Mr. Thomas the
Humane Fire Company was formed in 1845, and he also played an important role in
the formation of both the Phoenix and Southwark fire companies. He was a
principle backer of the Academy, a private-school erected at the southwest
corner of Bridge Street and Howertown Road in 1851, and he served as a trustee
of the school until it was purchased by the Catasauqua School District in 1856.
In 1847, David Thomas purchased the land of
Henry Breisch and in 1851 he bought the remainder of the undeveloped acreage of
the John Peter farm. Mr. Thomas sold very few lots initially, which later
allowed for the erection of many fine residences between Second Street and
Howertown Road and from Bridge Street to Walnut Street, now known as the
"Mansion District."
The Borough of Catasauqua was incorporated by
a degree of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Lehigh County on February 1, 1853,
and in the first election Mr. Thomas was honored by being selected to serve as
the first Burgess of Catasauqua. He was also elected to this post in 1856 and
1857, and he also served as a member of the local school board during the year
of 1855. In 1866 he was a Republican candidate for Congress, but declining on
principle to take part in the canvass he was not successful.
In 1872, David Thomas was honored by being
elected the first president of the newly formed American Institute of Mining
Engineers, and in 1874 he was selected .the president of the Iron Masters
Convention held in Philadelphia. He was affectionately styled the "Father
of the American Anthracite-Iron Industry" by James Swank, a contemporary,
and secretary and general manager of the American Iron and Steel Association.
David Thomas departed this life on June 20,
1882, after a full and rich life. He was a man of extraordinary abilities and
accomplishments and with his passing the borough lost its father, mentor,
benefactor and friend. His earthly remains were deposited in the Thomas vault
at Fairview Cemetery.
During 1882 a number of Welsh families living
in Catasauqua were determined to organize a congregation for themselves, known
as the Bethel Welsh Congregational Church, and "Mother" Thomas
donated a lot of ground at the northwest corner of Fourth and Pine Streets for
this purpose and she also made a liberal contribution to the cause. Elizabeth
(Hopkins) Thomas passed away on July 9, 1888 and her remains were also
deposited in the Thomas vault at Fairview Cemetery.
SAMUEL
THOMAS, son of David and
Elizabeth (Hopkins) Thomas, was born March 13, 1827, in Yniscedwyn,
Brecknockshire, South Wales, and in 1839 he emigrated with his parents to
America. He had in his native country acquired the rudiments of an English
education, and on reaching Pennsylvania became a pupil at Nazareth Hall in
Northampton County, where two and a half years were spent in study. On returning
to Catasauqua he was determined to follow the vocation of his father, and
entering the blacksmith and machine shops of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works, spent
four years in acquiring a. thorough knowledge of the business.
At the age of nineteen Mr. Thomas took an
active part in the management of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works and the
development of the mining interests of the company. In 1848, at the age of
twenty-one years, he went to Boonton, Morris County, New Jersey, where he was
for nine months engaged in the erection of a furnace for the Boonton Iron
Company. This he put in blast and successfully started, after which his
connection with the Lehigh Crane Iron Works was resumed. Much of the burden and
responsibility of the business was thrown upon Mr. Thomas. He participated
actively in the erection of the No. 4 and No. 5 furnaces during 1849, and
assisted largely in the development of the extensive mining property of the
company.
Samuel Thomas was appointed superintendent of
the newly formed Thomas Iron Company on March 1, 1854, and under his management
two furnaces were erected and put into blast at Hokendauqua. He filled the
position of general superintendent for a period of ten years, and on August 31,
1864, he was chosen a director and elected president of the Thomas Iron
Company. He organized the Lock Ridge Iron Company at Alburtis and erected the
first furnace in 1867, and on May 1, 1869 the plant was acquired by the Thomas
Iron Company. Samuel Thomas was also associated with the Catasauqua
Manufacturing Company and the Lehigh Fire Brick Company, both of Catasauqua.
In company with his father, Samuel Thomas visited Jefferson County, Alabama in May 1868, for the purpose of exploiting. In August of the same year he returned and purchased large tracts of mineral lands. In the spring of 1886, Samuel Thomas, along with his son, Edwin Thomas, started the construction of a blast furnace in Jefferson County, four miles west of Birmingham, at a place afterwards named Thomas, Alabama. Mr. Thomas resigned the presidency of the Thomas Iron Company on September 22, 1887, while remaining a director of the firm until his death, in order to devote himself to the establishment of this new enterprise. Furnace No. 1 was put in blast in May 1888, and construction of another furnace was then commenced, which was completed in the early part of 1890. The two furnaces, coke ovens, and coal and iron mines were operated under the name of the Pioneer Mining and Manufacturing Company by the Thomas family until 1899, when the plant was sold to the
82
Republic Iron and
Steel Company. Samuel Thomas then retired from active
participation in business affairs.
In March, 1848, Samuel Thomas married Miss
Rebecca Mickley, daughter of Jacob Mickley, and to this union were born two
children: Gertrude, wife of Dr. Joseph C. Guernsey of Philadelphia; and Edwin,
born April 9, 1853, of further mention. Mrs. Thomas departed this life on
November 16, 1891 and her remains were placed in the Thomas mausoleum at
Fairview Cemetery. In the spring of 1894, Samuel Thomas married, a second time,
Miss Julia M. Beerstecher, a native of Neuveville, Switzerland. In his later
years Mr. Thomas resided in the Thomas Mansion," at Second and Pine
Streets.
Mr. Thomas was a keen student, a close
observer and an able writer. His masterpiece was written on "Reminiscences
of the Early Anthracite Iron Industry" and read by him before the American
Institute of Mining Engineers at a California meeting in September 1899. Like
his father, Mr. Thomas took an active and effective interest in community
affairs in Hokendauqua as well as Catasauqua. He was actively identified with
the Presbyterian Church of Hokendauqua, in which he filled the office of
trustee for a number of years, and he also served as an Elder in the First
Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua. He contributed liberally toward the erection
of the Soldier's Monument in Fairview Cemetery, made from designs approved by
him, in memory of the men from Catasauqua, who fought in the Civil War. Samuel
Thomas served as a director of the National Bank of Catasauqua, and although he
took a live interest in political affairs and voted with the Republican Party,
he never aspired for office.
On February 21, 1906, Samuel Thomas departed
this world after a long and fruitful life. His earthly remains were deposited
in the Thomas vault at Fairview Cemetery.
EDWIN
THOMAS, son of Samuel and
Rebecca (Mickley) Thomas, was born at Catasauqua on April 9, 1853. He received
his early education in the public schools of his native borough and he completed
his education at Swarthmore and then Lafayette College. After finishing his
studies he entered the employ of the Thomas Iron Company at Hokendauqua as a
machinist, and there he remained for three years. On April 7, 1877 he was
appointed superintendent of the company's Lock Ridge furnaces at Alburtis, and
he served as such until April 1, 1880. He then accepted the position of general
manager of the Chestnut Hill Iron Company at Columbia, Pennsylvania, remaining
there for two years. He returned to the Hokendauqua plant of the Thomas Iron
Company in 1882 and he then served for four years as purchasing agent and
manager of the mechanical department. In the spring of 1886, Edwin Thomas went
to Jefferson County, Alabama, near Birmingham, and there he assisted his
father, Samuel Thomas, in erecting furnaces, coke ovens and coal and iron
mimes, under the name Pioneer Mining and Manufacturing Company. Upon the
completion of the plant he was appointed general manager, after which he was
made vice-president and in 1892 he was elected president, which office he held
until the time of the company's purchase in 1899 by the Republic Iron and Steel
Company. Under the new ownership he served as manager for one year, when he
resigned and returned to Catasauqua, and he then retired from active management
of furnaces, although he retained financial interests in the same. For a brief
time during 1915 and 1916 he served as vice-president of the Thomas Iron
Company.
Edwin Thomas was united in marriage with Miss Ellen (Ella) Dale Boyd, daughter of Alexander Reed and Mary Louise (Fuehrer) Boyd. From this union were born the following children: Samuel Boyd, born May 20, 1879, died September 12, 1888; Reed Dale, born January 25, 1883, died July 5, 1883; Edgar
83
Mickley, born March
10, 1884, died March 11, 1884; H. Dale, born June,
1885; Gertrude, born July 27, 1889, died March 14,
1890; and Ruth, born February, 1892, married Darwin
Lathrop Gillette, removed to Westfield, Massachusetts.
After returning to Catasauqua in 1900, Mr. and Mrs.
Thomas resided first at 543 Third Street and later
at the old family estate at the southeast corner
of Second and Pine Streets.
Edwin Thomas was elected president of the
National Bank of Catasauqua in 1903 and he served as such until his death. He
was president of the Nescopee Coal Company; director of the Upper Lehigh Coal
Company, Wahnetah Silk Company, Thomas Iron Company, Hazel Brook Coal Company,
and the Virginia Coal and Iron Company. He also served as a trustee of St.
Luke's Hospital, and he was a member of the American Institute of Mining
Engineers. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua and
for many years he served as an Elder.
Edwin Thomas passed away on August 17, 1924
and his mortal remains were deposited in the Thomas vault at Fairview Cemetery.
His widow, Ellen (Ella) D. (Boyd) Thomas departed this life on July 25, 1932
and her remains were also entombed in the Thomas vault.
JOHN
THOMAS, son of David and
Elizabeth (Hopkins) Thomas, was born at Yniscedwyn, Brecknockshire, South Wales
on September 10, 1829. When a lad of ten years of age he was brought by his
parents to America. He received his early education at Allentown and later he
became a pupil at Nazareth Hill, Northampton County, where he completed his
studies. He then determined to secure a practical knowledge of the business of
an iron-master, so entering the shops of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works he
mastered the work of the various departments, gaining a thorough knowledge of
the industry. He assisted his father, at the Lehigh Crane Iron Works until his
retirement in 1855, after which he succeeded him in the superintendency. John
Thomas served in this capacity with great ability until 1867, when he resigned
to accept a like position at the Thomas Iron Company's plant at Hokendauqua.
Under his management two new furnaces were installed by the company, No. 5 in
1873 and No. 6 in 1874. He remained in this position until early in 1893, when
he resigned the general superintendency and retired from active business. John Thomas
was also associated with his father, David Thomas, and his brother, Samuel
Thomas, in the Catasauqua Manufacturing Company and the Lehigh Fire Brick
Company. On May 7, 1855, John Thomas took as his bride Miss Helen Thomas,
daughter of Hopkin and Catherine (Richards) Thomas. This union was blessed with
the following children: David Hopkins, born January 21, 1857, of further
mention; Blanche, born April 18, 1859, died August 23, 1861; Harry J., born May
7, 1861, died June 6, 1861; Miriam, married Colonel Perry Harrison, removed to
Minneapolis, Minnesota; Bessie Hopkins, born June 8, 1866, died October 4,
1927; Samuel Richard, born March 7, 1869, of further mention; Catherine,
married Elisha Packer Wilbur, removed to Bethlehem; Captain John W., born February
15, 1874, of further mention; and Helen, born July 7, 1877, died July 7, 1877.
After moving to Hokendauqua, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas resided in their mansion,
located on Front Street, below North Street.
John Thomas served as a director of the
National Bank of Catasauqua, and he was a follower of the principles of the
Republican party. He was an active and liberal supporter of the Hokendauqua
Presbyterian Church.
John Thomas passed away in his mansion at Hokendauqua on March 17, 1897 and his earthly remains were deposited in the Thomas mausoleum at Fairview Cemetery. His widow, Helen (Thomas) Thomas
84
departed this life
on March 25, 1921 and her remains were also deposited
in the Thomas vault at Fairview Cemetery.
DAVID
HOPKINS THOMAS, son of John
and Helen (Thomas) Thomas, was born at Catasauqua on January 21, 1857. He
entered the machine shop at the Hokendauqua plant of the Thomas Iron Company on
June 21, 1875, and on April 1, 1880 he was appointed superintendent of the Lock
Ridge furnaces, remaining there until March 1, 1885, when he resigned and went
to Alabama, where he managed a furnace plant for a short time. He then accepted
a position as general superintendent for the Troy Steel and Iron Company of
Troy, New York, and he constructed three large blast furnaces for that company
on Breaker Island, New York. On April 1, 1888 he was re-employed by the Thomas
Iron Company and served as superintendent of the Hokendauqua plant until March
1, 1893, when he succeeded his father as general superintendent of the Thomas
Iron Company, and he remained as such until 1897.
David H. Thomas married, first, Jennie Rader
of Easton, who passed away on January 25, 1890, and they were the parents of
three children: David R., born May 10, 1885, died April 24, 1954; Elizabeth,
born September 6, 1881, married a Mr. de Varona, removed to Point Lorna,
California, died August 9, 1946; and John Rader, born January 26, 1885, died
December 2, 1930. David H. Thomas later married Katherine Ruhe, who passed away
on June 30, 1943, no issue.
Mr. Thomas was a life long Republican and he
was very active in politics, serving Lehigh County as Register of Wills for one
term, during the years of 1910 and 1911. On or about 1914, David H. Thomas and
his second wife removed from the Lehigh Valley, settling in Los Angeles,
California, and there he died on January, 29, 1934. His mortal remains were
returned and deposited in the Thomas family vault at Fairview Cemetery.
SAMUEL
RICHARD THOMAS, son John and
Helen (Thomas) Thomas, was born at Hokendauqua on March 7, 1869. He was
educated in the local public schools and the private school of Professor
Alexander N. Ulrich, Esq., at Catasauqua, and he graduated from the Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute of Troy, New York, in 1891. He then entered the employ of
the Thomas Iron Company and he became connected with their Ironton Railroad
Company. He served in various capacities and in 1907 he was made superintendent
of the line, and later he was also elected president of the Ironton Railroad
Company, serving as such until 1939. In June 1942, Samuel R. Thomas returned
the charter of the Thomas Iron Company to the State, fifteen years after the
last furnace was in blast.
On October 14, 1893, Samuel R. Thomas was
united in marriage to Miss Bessie M. Laury, daughter of Alexander C. P. and
Mary (Hirst) Laury, of Laury's Station. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomas was born an
only daughter, Miriam Thomas, born August 25, 1895, married Edward F. Price of
Danville, died August 21, 1951.
Samuel R. Thomas was affiliated with the Republican Party and he served the Hokendauqua independent school district as president from 1907 to 1911, when it was discontinued and merged with the Whitehall school system; he also served as township commissioner. He and his family were members of the Hokendauqua Presbyterian Church, which he served as a member of the trustee board.
85
He was a director
of the National Bank of Catasauqua, and a member
of the Livingston Club, Allentown.
In their later years, Samuel R. and Bessie
Thomas resided at 128 N. 15th Street, Allentown, and on May 19, 1947 he passed
away in the Sacred Heart Hospital and his remains were entombed in the Thomas
mausoleum at Fairview Cemetery. Bessie (Laury) Thomas departed this life on
April 22, 1948 and her remains were also deposited in the Thomas vault.
CAPTAIN
JOHN W. THOMAS, son of John
and Helen (Thomas) Thomas, was born in Hokendauqua on February 15, 1874. His
early years were spent in the employ of the Crane Iron Works and he was
appointed manager of their furnaces. On December 1, 1900 he became manager of
the Hokendauqua furnaces of the Thomas Iron Company and there he remained until
March 9, 1903, when he was appointed by the company to be superintendent of the
Keystone Furnace near Chain Dam. John W. Thomas was then transferred to the
Lock Ridge furnaces, and there he served as superintendent until 1912. He had
learned the trade of mechanical and electrical engineering, and he entered into
business for himself, operating an electrical shop on North Seventh Street,
Allentown.
John W. Thomas was united in wedlock with
Miss Florence Snyder and this union was blessed with a son, John, who served as
a Lieutenant in the U. S. Army during World War II. John W. Thomas had served
during World War I with the 109th Engineers, attaining the rank of Captain. He
was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member of the Hokendauqua
Presbyterian Church. John W. Thomas passed away in the Allentown Hospital on
June 23, 1943 and his remains were entombed in the Thomas family vault at Fairview
Cemetery. Florence (Snyder) Thomas died on April 15, 1951 and her remains were
also deposited in the Thomas family vault at Fairview Cemetery.
HOPKIN
THOMAS was born at
Glamorganshire, South Wales on December 19, 1793. He spent his childhood on his
parent's farm until reaching his sixteenth year, when he was apprenticed to the
Neath Abbey Works, near Neath, South Wales, to acquire the trade of a
machinist. After fulfilling his apprenticeship he rapidly attend a high
position among his fellow workers.
In the year 1834 he emigrated to America with
his family and upon landing at Philadelphia, he found employment with the
Baldwin Locomotive Works. He later entered the shops of Garrett and Eastwick,
and from there he engaged with the Beaver Meadow Railroad and Coal Company as a
master mechanic of their railroads and mines, and while thus employed he
developed mechanical inventions and appliances. Through one of these inventions
anthracite coal was first made available for use in locomotives, and he
invented and successfully used the chilled cast-iron car-wheels, he also
developed the most improved and successful mine pump and machinery of the day.
Hopkin Thomas removed to Catasauqua in 1853, on being appointed master mechanic of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works. During his employment with this company he became noted for his development of some of the finest mechanics of the day. The list contains the following: Philip Hoffecker, who became
86
master mechanic for
the Lehigh Valley Railroad, at Waverly, Pennsylvania;
William R. Thomas, superintendent of both the Crane
Iron Works and the Thomas Iron Company furnaces,
at Hokendauqua; James Thomas and George Davies,
proprietors of Davies and Thomas Company; Owen F.
Leibert, superintendent of the Bethlehem Iron Company,
South Bethlehem; Captain William R. Jones, superintendent
of the Edgar Thomson Steel Company, Braddock, Pennsylvania;
Samuel Davis, superintendent of the Port Oram mines,
Dover, New Jersey; and Daniel N. Jones, superintendent
of the Cambria Iron Works, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
and the Colorado Coal and Iron Company, Pueblo,
Colorado.
Hopkin Thomas was united in marriage with
Miss Catherine Richards, of Merthyr-Tydvil, South Wales, and this union was
blessed with the following children: William R., born May 30, 1829, of further
mention; Mary, born January 31, 1831, died January 14, 1891, married James H.
McKee, issue: (Katherine Sarah McKee, Joseph J. McKee, William W. McKee, Mary
N. McKee, Llewelyn T. McKee, Helen T. McKee, and Edith McKee); Helen, born
April 22, 1833, died March 25, 1921, married John Thomas, issue: (David Hopkins
Thomas, Blanche Thomas, Harry J. Thomas, Miriam Thomas, Bessie Hopkins Thomas,
Samuel Richard Thomas, Catherine Thomas, Captain John W. Thomas, and Helen Thomas);
James, born September 22, 1836, of further mention; and Katherine, born August
21, 1841, died February 25, 1920, married James W. Fuller II, issue: (Maud
Fuller, Blanche Fuller, George Liewellyn Fuller, Mary Louise Fuller, and Lt.
Colonel James W. Fuller III).
Hopkin Thomas resided with his family at the
southwest corner of Third and Walnut Streets. On May 12, 1878 he passed away
and his body was buried at Fairview Cemetery. His widow, Catherine (Richards)
Thomas departed this life on August 7, 1879 and her remains were also interred
at Fairview Cemetery.
WILLIAM
R. THOMAS, son of Hopkin and
Catherine (Richards) Thomas, was born at MerthyrTydvil, South Wales on May 20,
1829. He came to this country with his parents during his youth and he received
his primary education in the public schools at Beaver Meadow, Pennsylvania. At
the age of sixteen he learned the machinist trade from his father and upon
reaching the age of twenty he went to New York City, where he received special
instruction in the navy-yards. After working there for two years he emigrated
to La Salle County, Illinois and then in 1854 to Amboy, where he engaged as an
engineer on the Illinois Central Railroad, running between that city and
Centralia.
After a service of two years on the road Mr. Thomas' health failed, and he returned east, rejoining his family at Catasauqua. After regaining his health, he entered the employ of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works as master mechanic, remaining with them until 1866, when he became associated with the Lehigh Car, Wheel and Axle Works, serving as superintendent. In 1861 he also entered into partnership with Morgan Emanuel, in the firm of Thomas and Emanuel, manufacturers of blasting powder. After four years the plant, located on the west side, near the round house of the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad, was destroyed by an explosion and never rebuilt. With the founding of the Coleraine Iron Company at Redington, Pennsylvania in 1868, William R. Thomas then became connected with this firm, in building of furnaces, and managing the workshop until 1875. That year he went south to Georgia, where he built the Rising Fawn Iron Furnace in Dade County. From there he went to Helena, Alabama, and superintended the operations of the Helena coal mine for a month. Returning north in 1879 he accepted the superintendency of the Coleraine Iron Company for one year, after which he went to Hokendauqua
87
to fill the same
position for the Thomas Iron Company. After seven
years in their employ he resigned and in March 1887,
he was made superintendent of the Crane Iron Works,
and he continued in this position until 1891, when
he became associated with Clinton H. Fuller in the
Globe Metal Works. With this enterprise he was associated
for one year after which he became connected with
the Davies and Thomas Company, working as a mechanical
engineer, and continuing in the employ of this firm
well past his eightieth year.
At Janesville, Pennsylvania in 1856, William
R. Thomas married Martha Mayhew, a native of England, and a daughter of Francis
Mayhew. This union was blessed with the following children: Frank H., born July
14,1856, of further mention; James J., born November 11, 1858, of further
mention; John W., a chemist, removed to Littlestown, Pennsylvania, where he
served as burgess for several years; Katherine, born March 11, 1860, died
August 18, 1907, married a Mr. Agthe, issue: Frank Agthe; Mary, married John
Corsa, removed to Amherst, Massachusetts; Ida, married Oliver E. Hawkins,
removed to Kingston, Pennsylvania; Helen, born September 4, 1867, died February
3, 1949; William R., Jr., born July 15, 1870, of further mention; and Fritz,
born August 27, 1875, of further mention.
During the Civil War William R. Thomas
enlisted in Co. C, 46th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, mustering in on August
17, 1861. He was elected to the rank of 1st Lieutenant and on April 4, 1862 he
was discharged. With the Army of Northern Virginia's invasion of Pennsylvania,
he re-enlisted as a private in Co. B, 38th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving
from July 1, 1863 thru August 7, 1863. William R. Thomas and his family resided
at 24 Second Street, and he was a member of the Methodist faith and politically
he was affiliated with the Republican Party. He was also a Free and Accepted
Mason, a Royal Arch Mason and Knight Templar.
William R. Thomas passed away on April 13,
1917 and his remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery. His wife, Martha
(Mayhew) Thomas had passed away on August 17, 1898 and her remains were also
buried at Fairview Cemetery.
FRANK
H. THOMAS, son of William R.
and Martha (Mayhew) Thomas, was born at Catasauqua on July 24, 1856. He entered
the employ of the Coleraine Iron Company at an early age, rapidly advancing
himself. He then entered the employ of the Thomas Iron Company at their furnace
at Chain Dam, and from there he went to the Rising Fawn Furnace, Dade County,
Georgia, his father being the superintendent. He later removed to Oxmoor,
Alabama, where he found employment with the Oxmoor Iron Works, remaining there
until 1883. Frank H. Thomas then traveled north and accepted the position of
furnace manager of the Franklin Iron Manufacturing Company, of Franklin, New
York, serving in this capacity until his death.
In 1886, Frank H. Thomas married a Miss Hall,
of Utica, New York, there being no issue. He was a member of the Knights Templar;
Clinton Lodge, F. and A. M.; and the Utica Chapter, Royal Arch Masons.
In the early part of December 1891, he
accidentally thrust one of his legs into a tank of steam heated water at the furnace,
and before he could extricate it the limb was severely scalded. Being a
diabetic, complications set in and he finally succumbed to blood poisoning on
December 22, 1891. His earthly remains were laid to rest at the New Forest Hill
Cemetery, Utica, New York.
JAMES
J. THOMAS, son of William R.
and Martha (Mayhew) Thomas, was born in Catasauqua on November 11, 1858. During
his early years he learned the machinist trade and for many years he was
employed by the Wahnetah Silk Company of Catasauqua. James J. Thomas was of the
Methodist faith, and he resided with his brother, William R. Thomas, Jr., at
502 Pine Street and there he passed away on January 17, 1946 and his remains
were interred at Fairview Cemetery.
WILLIAM
R. THOMAS, Jr., son of
William R. and Martha (Mayhew) Thomas, was born on July 15, 1870. He was
educated in public schools and at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in
1894. He became connected with the Wahnetah Silk Company as assistant
superintendent, and in 1896 he was made the general manager, and he was elected
president of the company in 1907. He was a director of the National Bank of
Catasauqua and a director of the Allentown Hospital.
William R. Thomas, Jr. was active in the
Liberty Bond sales during World War I and he was a member of the executive
committee and chairman of the ways and means committee for the Welcome Home
Celebration in 1919 for the returning Catasauqua servicemen. In 1928 he
presented to Catasauqua a granite memorial in honor of the men and women of the
community who had served in World War I. The tablet was placed on a memorial
plot adjoining the American Legion Post.
William R. Thomas, Jr. married Minnie Milson,
daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Davies) Milson, on March 27, 1901. They were
the parents of two sons: William R. III and Daniel Milson. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas
resided with their family at 502 Pine Street.
During the year 1916 he and his wife became
prime movers in the organization of the playground system of Catasauqua and he
continued his interest in the program until it was taken over by the Catasauqua
School District in 1930. Because of this interest, the new football field that
was built in 1932 was named Thomas Field in honor of the late Mrs. Thomas.
William R. Thomas, Jr. was elected Burgess of
Catasauqua in 1922 and he served as such thru 1925. He was a member of the
Porter Lodge, No. 284, F. and A. M.; and a member of the Phoenix Fire Company.
He was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua. He was
known throughout Catasauqua as "Butch" Thomas.
William R. Thomas, Jr. passed away on May 24,
1956 and his remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery. Minnie (Milson) Thomas
departed this life in 1924 and her remains were also interred at Fairview
Cemetery.
FRITZ
W. THOMAS, son of William R.
and Martha (Mayhew) Thomas, was born on August 27, 1875. He was educated in the
Catasauqua public schools. Fritz W. Thomas served as superintendent of the
Chesauqua Silk Company, of Chester, Pennsylvania, for several years before he
was forced to retire because of failing health. He moved back to the family
home and there he resided until his death on August 22, 1925. His remains were
buried in the Thomas family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
JAMES
THOMAS, son of Hopkin and
Catherine (Richards) Thomas, was born in Philadelphia on September 22, 1836. In
1853 he accompanied his parents to Catasauqua, and there he spent a short
period in the public schools and. a few terms at the Weaversville Academy. He
then entered the shops of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works and there he learned his
trade as a machinist, under the tutelage of his father, Hopkin Thomas. In 1859
he became superintendent of the Carbon Iron Works at Parryville, Pennsylvania,
in which position he remained until 1871. He then removed to Jefferson County,
Alabama, and became manager of the Irondale Company at Irondale, and afterwards
manager of the Oxmoor Iron Company at Oxmoor, Alabama. During his labors in
Alabama he enjoyed the distinction of having made "the first coke iron"
in the state.
In February, 1879 he returned to Catasauqua
and formed a partnership with George Davies in the foundry business, under the
name Davies and Thomas Company, which continued until the death of George
Davies in 1894. The following year James Thomas and the heirs of George Davies
incorporated the firm under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, and he was
then elected president of the company, serving as such until his death. He was
one of the principle owners of the Electric Light and Power Company of Catasauqua,
and he was also president of the Wahnetah Silk Company, and he served as
director of the National Bank of Catasauqua.
On June 11, 1861, James Thomas was united in
marriage with Mary Ann Davies, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Philips) Davies,
and sister of George Davies. This union was blessed with the following
children: Blanche, born 1863, died 1952, married Charles R. Horn, issue:
(Isabella Horn, Mary Horn, Catherine Horn, James T. Horn, Blanche Horn, and Blanche
Horn); Mary C., born January 4, 1866, died December 21, 1893; Rowland D., born
October 28, 1868, of further mention; Ruth, born April 1, 1870, died March 1,
1966, married William W. McKee, son of James H. and Mary (Thomas) McKee, issue:
(Ruth T. McKee, James H. McKee, Katherine McKee, and Mary McKee); Helen, born
1871, died 1968, married Dr. James L. Hornbeck, issue: (Thomas M. Hornbeck,
James L. Hornbeck, and Dorothy Hornbeck); Catherine, born November 5, 1874,
died March 31, 1890; and Hopkin, born April 16, 1876, of further mention.
While living at Parryville, James Thomas
organized Co. F, 34th Militia and he was elected its Captain. The company was
mustered in on June 3, 1863 and discharged on August 24, 1863. James Thomas was
a strong Republican and he served as a member of the Catasauqua School Board
from 1886 thru 1891. He was also a delegate to the Republican National
Convention at Minneapolis in 1892. He was connected with all the bodies of the
Masonic fraternity. In his religious beliefs he was a member of the Grace
Methodist Episcopal Church of Catasauqua. He and his wife resided in their
mansion at 545 Fourth Street and after his death his widow built a home at 510
Walnut Street.
James Thomas departed this life on December
18, 1906 and his remains were interred in the family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
His widow, Mary Ann (Davies) Thomas passed away on July 16, 1921 and her body
was also buried at Fairview Cemetery.
ROWLAND D. THOMAS, son of James and Mary Ann (Davies) Thomas, was born at Parryville, Carbon County on October 28, 1868. He was educated in the public schools and at Catasauqua High School. He learned the machinist and moulding trades at the Davies and Thomas Company, with which
90
he became a member in 1894. In 1906 he became secretary
and treasurer of the firm and he was also appointed
general manager. With the death of his father, he
was elected president of the company in January
1907 and he served as such until November 1911.
He remained connected with the business and he continued
to serve as a member of the board of directors.
Rowland D. Thomas married Miss Clara Hopkins,
daughter of John and Mary Hopkins, on October 27, 1897. They resided at 234
Pine Street from 1906 until their deaths. Socially he was a member of the
Catasauqua Club, Porter Lodge, No. 284, Free and Accepted Masons, and a past
high priest of the Catasauqua Royal Arch Chapter. He was a member of the Grace
Methodist Episcopal Church of Catasauqua and he served as a trustee. He was a
Republican in politics and in 1911 he was elected to the Catasauqua School
Board and he was also a member of the board of health, serving as president for
several terms.
Rowland D. Thomas died in his home on March
26, 1952 and his remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery. Clara (Hopkins)
Thomas passed away on April 8, 1959 and her body was also interred at Fairview
Cemetery.
HOPKIN
THOMAS, son of James and
Mary Ann (Davies) Thomas, was born in Oxmoor, Alabama on April 16, 1876. He was
educated in the public schools and graduated from Catasauqua High School in
1895. He then became associated with the Davies and Thomas Company and in 1911
he was elected vice-president of the firm. He served in this capacity until
September 1913, when he was appointed general manager of the company. Mr.
Thomas was a member of the Catasauqua Club, and Porter Lodge, F. and A. M. He
was also a member of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Catasauqua. A life
long bachelor, Hopkin Thomas resided at 510 Walnut Street. He died on March 23,
1924, at the home of his sister, Mrs. Ruth McKee, 605 Fourth Street. The mortal
remains of Hopkin Thomas were buried in the Thomas family plot at Fairview
Cemetery.
The emigrant ancestor of
this family was FREDERICK WEBER, who
arrived in America prior to 1727. He was granted several warrants, dated June
8, 1743, for one hundred acres in Lower Saucon Township, then part of Bucks
County. Frederick Weber and his wife, Catherine, were the parents of five
children: Jacob, born 1727; George, born April 4, 1731, died 1770; Michael,
born September 29, 1738, died December 24, 1826; Ann Margaret, married John
Arnold Eberhard of Egypt, May 3, 1757; and Catherine.
GEORGE WEBER, son of Frederick Weber, was born on April 4,
1731. He and his wife, Anna Barbara, had a son Valentine Weber, who was born in
Lower Saucon Township on September 12, 1766.
VALENTINE (WEBER) WEAVER learned the tanner and currier's trades
and upon completion of his apprenticeship, he located at Easton, where he
engaged in the tanning and currying business until 1805, when he removed to
Stockertown and established a tannery. He was the first to anglicize the family
name and on December 4, 1788, he married Christiana Weygandt, daughter of
Captain Jacob and Catherine (Nowlane) Weygandt. Valentine and Christlana Weaver
had children, as follows: Daughter, born December 5, 1789, died December 5,
1789; Jacob, born January 12, 1791, associated with his father and succeeded
him in the tanning and currying business, died October 3, 1870; George, born
June 15, 1793, tanner by trade, died May 2, 1854; John, born November 21, 1795,
tanner by trade, died May, 1877; Michael Joseph, born April 21, 1798, died July
3, 1799; Charles, born March 8, 1801, of further mention; Michael, born
November 21, 1803, tanner by trade, died April 17, 1876; Susan, born February
7, 1807, married Thomas Kreidler, died March 17, 1879; Christina, born March 5,
1810, married Jacob Haenchen, died January 19, 1890; Catherine, born December
9, 1812, married John Price, died September 12, 1882; and Mary, born October
15, 1818, married Adolph Groetzinger, died February 24, 1846.
Valentine Weaver was an
officer in the Lutheran church and a member of the Democratic Party, and in
1814 he was elected a Northampton County Commissioner. He also was a member of
the 71st Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia during 1808. Valentine Weaver died at
Stockertown on October 25, 1838 and his remains were interred at Forks
churchyard, a mile distant.
CHARLES WEAVER, son of Valentine and Christiana (Weygandt)
Weaver, was born on March 8, 1801. He was a tanner and currier by occupation
and for some time he was in partnership with his brother, Jacob, at Richmond,
Northampton County. He served in the State Militia and in 1835 was a candidate
for brigade inspector. Charles Weaver was for some years a local preacher in
the Methodist Episcopal Church. On March 24, 1825 he married Catherine B.
Hummel and they were blessed with four sons and five daughters: Valentine
Weygandt, born January 9, 1826, of further mention; Anna Elizabeth, married
Isaac W. Hales; Charles Carroll, born April 12, 1830, ore-mine operator and
later street commissioner of Allentown, died May 15, 1905; Benjamin Hinds, born
August 21, 1832, of further mention; Malinda Louise, married John F. Brown;
Mary Catherine, married Martin A. Thomas; Philip Hilgart; Frances Rebecca,
married James R. McMurry; and Emma Beulah, married Henry L. Christ. Charles
Weaver died at Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania on September 2, 1870. His widow,
Catherine (Hummel) Weaver passed away on July 2, 1891.
VALINTINE WEYGANDT WEAVER, eldest son of Charles and Catherine B. (Hummel) Weaver, was born at Richmond, Northampton County on January 9, 1826. His boyhood days were spent in Northampton County and he attended the county schools. He later clerked in stores at Berlinsville, Milton, Easton and Catasauqua; at the age of twenty he apprenticed in the Lehigh Crane Iron Works and upon learning the trade of machinist he acted as agent of their mining interests at Catasauqua and vicinity. He left the employ of the Lehigh Crane Iron Works to become assistant superintendent at the Thomas Iron Company, working under his brother-in-law, Samuel Thomas, who was then acting as superintendent. With the latter's advancement to president in 1864, Valentine W. Weaver succeeded him as superintendent and he served in this position until he was called upon to supervise the construction of the Lock Ridge furnace in 1867, and he became its first superintendent. In August 1873, he left the Lock Ridge furnaces and for a while managed the Thomas Iron Company's iron mines at Pine Grove,
92
Cumberland County.
He left the employ of the Thomas Iron Company and
became superintendent of the Millerstown Iron Company,
Macungie, which he left after a short time and in
July 1879, he became the superintendent of the Coplay
Iron Company, where he remained until retiring in
1884.
Valentine W. Weaver was
married in 1848 to Miss Mary Mickley, daughter of Jacob Mickley. To this union
were born eight children: Charles, died in infancy; William Mickley, born July
18, 1851, of further mention; James W., born November 3, 1852, of further
mention; Anna Elizabeth born 1854, married a Mr. Yerkes, of Hatboro,
Pennsylvania; Valentine Weygandt, born August 29, 1857, died January 21, 1901;
Katherine May, born May 5, 1859, married Dr. Edward E. Berry, of Allentown,
died December 20, 1929; Mary Jane, born 1860, married H. S. Bachman; and Emily
R., born January 9, 1861, died January 19, 1889.
Valentine W. Weaver was
a director of the Macungie Iron Company, a director of the National Banks of
Catasauqua and Slatington, and a director of the Hokendauqua Bridge Company. In
politics he was a Republican and in his religious affiliations he was a
Presbyterian. Valentine W. Weaver passed away at Catasauqua on October 11, 1893
and his body was interred at Mickley's Cemetery. Mary (Mickley) Weaver passed
away on November 25, 1901 and her remains were also interred at Mickley's
Cemetery.
WILLIAM MICKLEY WEAVER, son of Valentine W. and Mary (Mickley)
Weaver, was born at Catasauqua on July 18, 1851. He received his preliminary
education in the local schools and at Williamsport; then entered the Baldwin
Locomotive Works at Philadelphia for the purpose of becoming an expert in
mechanics, and after spending three years there in learning the trade he received
the appointment as superintendent at the Lock Ridge Furnace as successor of his
father, on October 16, 1873. Only twenty-two years of age at the time of his
appointment he was the youngest furnace superintendent in Pennsylvania. On
April 7, 1877, William M. Weaver then moved to Macungie and again succeeded his
father as superintendent of the Millerstown Iron Company. The company was
re-organized on December 31, 1879 as the Macungie Iron Company and there he
served until his death.
William M. Weaver married
Ella Singmaster, daughter of James Singmaster, in 1881 and they had two
children: William Singmaster, born 1886; and Edna May, married Walter G.
Linton.
William M. Weaver while
at Alburtis assisted in organizing and establishing the Presbyterian Church and
he continued his membership and support until his death. He took an early
interest in photography and became the first amateur photographer of
distinction in Lehigh County. William M. Weaver died at the age of thirty-eight
on March 19, 1890.
JAMES W. WEAVER, son of Valentine and Mary (Mickley) Weaver, was born at Catasauqua on November 3, 1852. He became employed by the Thomas Iron Company in 1867 and he served the company for many years. He began his career as a machinist at Hokendauqua and then as a clerk and telegraph operator at Lock Ridge. In 1872 he became employed at the Pine Grove Furnace, Cumberland County, as assistant cashier. He then served as a conductor on the South Mountain Railroad, and in 1879 he removed to Coplay and found employment as cashier of the Coplay Iron Company. On June 23, 1883 he was re-employed by the Thomas Iron Company as bookkeeper, a position he held until February 9,
93
1893, when he was promoted
to the position of secretary-treasurer of the company
and he served in this dual capacity until 1915.
On September 3, 1873,
James W. Weaver married Miss Emily Givler, daughter of Thomas Givler, of
Carlisle. From this marriage the following children were born: Bessie May,
married William C. Hood, of Stroudsburg; Emily M., married Stanton Godley, of
Easton; James William; Helen A.; Charles Valentine; and Elizabeth Givler.
BENJAMIN HINDS WEAVER, third son of Charles and Catherine B. (Hummel)
Weaver, and younger brother of Valentine W. Weaver, was born at Richmond,
Northampton County, on August 21, 1832. He spent his youth on his father's farm
and his educational training was received in the local public schools. He
clerked for two years in the store of Hallenback and Reets in Wilkes-Barre.
In 1859 he came to
Catasauqua, and was employed by the Lehigh Crane Iron Works as a mining agent.
After several years he severed his relationship with the Lehigh Crane Iron
Works and he then continued in the same business for himself.
On November 4, 1864,
Benjamin H. Weaver was united in marriage to Miss Mary Duff, daughter of David
Duff and Isabella D. (Steel) Duff, who served as postmistress of Catasauqua,
1865-1871. From this union were born four sons and four daughters, as follows:
Jessie Lincoln, died May 8, 1884; Harry B., born December 9, 1867, of further
mention; Gertrude B., died April 9, 1871; Ralph Steele, born November 3, 1872,
of further mention; Mary Naomi, died January 5, 1957; Margaret Duff, died May
22, 1889; Adrian B., employed as a sales agent for Rogers, Brown and Company,
of Chicago; and Cooper F., employed as a draughtsman for the American Steel and
Iron Company, of Lebanon.
In 1861, Benjamin H.
Weaver responded to the call of President Lincoln for volunteers, and he
enlisted in Co. A, 1st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with a term of
enlistment of three months. Later in the same year he enlisted for a term of
three years in Co. C, 46th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, attaining the rank
of 1st Sergeant. He served one year and a half, when he was wounded during the
Battle of Cedar Mountain and he was honorably discharged because of physical
disability on October 21, 1862.
Mr. Weaver was a member
of the Republican Party and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of
Catasauqua. Benjamin H. Weaver passed away on February 13, 1919 and his remains
were interred at Fairview Cemetery. Mary (Duff) Weaver had departed this life
on July 28, 1903 and her remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery.
HARRY B. WEAVER, son of Benjamin H. and Mary (Duff) Weaver, was born at Guth's Station, South Whitehall Township on December 9, 1867. When twelve years of age he removed with his parents to Catasauqua and there he received his education in the borough schools. In 1889 he entered the laboratory of the Crane Iron Works as a chemist's apprentice and from this start he became sufficiently familiar with the manufacture of pig iron that he was entrusted with the charge of the following furnaces: Macungie furnace, at Macungie; Wharton furnace, at Wharton, New Jersey; Lehigh Iron Company furnace, at Allentown; Durham Iron Works furnace, at Riegelsville; and Burden Iron Company furnace, at Troy, New York. In 1907, Harry B. Weaver became associated with James K.
94
Bowen, of Allentown,
in organizing the Allentown Iron Manufacturing Company,
located at the corner of Brick and Furnace Streets,
along the west side of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
tracks, for the purpose of manufacturing cold blast
charcoal iron. He was elected treasurer and general
manager of the company, and he remained connected
with this enterprise until 1931. In August 1914,
the firm of Lehigh Smelting Company, of Allentown,
was started for the manufacture of oxide and zinc,
with Mr. Weaver serving as president.
Harry B. Weaver was
united in marriage with Miss Linnie M. Erdman, and to this union were born the
following children: W. Erdman; Harry B., Jr.; Thomas E., Esq.; a daughter,
married R. L. Whitney, removed to Sharon, Pennsylvania; a daughter, married R.
J. Burger, removed to Allentown; and a son.
While residing at
Catasauqua Mr. Weaver served as a member of the Catasauqua School Board, and he
took a very active part in the Old Home Week Celebration during 1914, serving
as chairman of the Educational Committee. Fraternally he was a member of the
Masons. Harry B. Weaver removed to Macungie, and there he served as a member of
the school board. In his later years he was a breeder and raiser of beef
cattle. Being in ill health for one month, Harry B. Weaver passed away at his
Macungie home on October 2, 1943. His wife, Linnie (Erdman) Weaver had passed
away in 1910.
RALPH STEELE WEAVER, son of Benjamin H. and Mary (Duff) Weaver, was
born was born at Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania on November 3, 1872. As a youth he
came to Catasauqua with his parents and there he attended the local public schools,
graduating from Catasauqua High School in 1888 with honors. His first position
immediately upon graduation was with the National Bank of Catasauqua as a
clerk. He then served as superintendent and general manager of the Catasauqua
Gas Company, which position he relinquished to become superintendent of the
Port Jervis, New York, Gas and Electric Company. Returning to Catasauqua about
1903 he then became associated with Colonel James W. Fuller III, serving in his
interest in various positions. Through this association he became connected
with Fuller Engineering Company, Lehigh Pulverizer Mill Company and
Fuller-Lehigh Company. Ralph S. Weaver also served as superintendent of the
Allentown Portland Cement Company and he was affiliated with the Valley Forge
Cement Company, and with the organization of Fuller Company in 1926 he was
appointed treasurer and served as a member of the board of directors.
Subsequent to the death of Colonel Fuller in 1929, Ralph S. Weaver became
president of the Allentown Portland Cement Company, Valley Forge Cement Company
and Willow Brook Farms Company. He was also one of the executors of the estate
of Colonel Fuller, as well as guardian of the Colonels youngest son, Charlton
Thomas Fuller. Mr. Weaver also served as a member of the board of directors of
the Allentown-Bethlehem Gas Company.
In 1898 during the
Spanish-American War he served as a corporal in Puerto Rico with Co. B, Fourth
Regiment Infantry, National Guard of Pennsylvania. During his residency at
Catasauqua he lived at 540 Fourth Street. Mr. Weaver was a member of the
Portland Cement Association for thirty years, during which time he served on
many of their committees, and for a period of years was a member of the board
of directors. Socially and fraternally he was a member of Porter Lodge No. 284,
F and A. M.; Catasauqua Royal Arch Chapter 278; Delaware Commandery No. 44, K.
T., Port Jervis, New York; B. P. O. Elks No. 645, Port Jervis, New York; Camp
George H. Schwartz No. 2, U. S. W. V.; Lehigh Country Club; Livingston Club,
Allentown; and the Catasauqua Club.
Ralph S. Weaver passed
away in his home on October 27, 1939 and his earthly remains were interred in
the Weaver family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
DAVID WILLIAMS was born in South Wales during the year of
1793. He emigrated to America in 1833 with his wife, Gwenney, and children and
located in Schenectady, N. Y. He traveled extensively in this country and
Mexico and he published a series of articles entitled "Cymro in Mexico."
These articles gained for him a national reputation.
David Williams settled
in Craneville in 1840, and found employment as a moulder with the Lehigh Crane
Iron Company. He became active in the affairs of the first Presbyterian church
of the village, located on Church Street near Howertown Road. He was elected an
elder of the church and he served as such until his death.
David Williams and his
wife were blessed with the following children: Thomas Philips, born August 24,
1816, of further mention; Walter, born 1820, died August 3, 1845; David, born
January 27, 1821, of further mention; John, born November 20, 1824, of further
mention; and Oliver, born April 23, 1831, of further mention.
David Williams being of
poor health for several years passed away on May 1, 1845. His remains were
first interred in the churchyard cemetery of the old church; and later they
were removed to Fairview Cemetery, being re-interred in the Williams family
plot. Gwenney Williams died on April 26, 1855, and her remains are now interred
at Fairview Cemetery.
THOMAS PHILIPS WILLIAMS, son of David and Genney Williams, was
born in Landore, South Wales, on August 24, 1816. He came to America with his
parents as a young man during the year of 1833. He resided in Schenectady, N.
Y., until he traveled west, settling in Wisconsin.
Thomas P. Williams
married and he and his first wife, Jennet, were parents of a son, David, born
1844, died July 10, 1871. Thomas P. Williams married for a second time Caroline
Marcks, and they were the parents of the following children: Sarah, born
February 22, 1847, married Charles Corwin, died December 24, 1915; Maria, born
April 10, 1851, married Edmund Randall, died August 19, 1923; John Arthur, born
March 22, 1857, of further mention; Oliver D., removed to Boston, Mass.; and
Emma, married a Mr. Coleman and removed to Lawrence, Ind.
Thomas P. Williams and
his family moved back east in 1868, settling in Catasauqua. Thomas P. Williams
was killed on the railroad February 22, 1872, and his remains were interred at
Fairview Cemetery. Caroline (Marcks) Williams passed away on April 23, 1913,
and her remains were also interred at Fairview Cemetery.
J(OHN) ARTHUR WILLIAMS, son of Thomas P. and Caroline (Marcks)
Williams, was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on March 22, 1857. He came to
Catasauqua with his parents during the year of 1868 and he later went to work
at the Union Foundry and Machine Company, located at the southeast corner of
Front and Pine Streets. He later became general manager of the company and in
1891 he was appointed secretary-treasurer of the firm. He continued with the
firm until all operations were ceased in 1905.
On January 1, 1904, J.
Arthur Williams began the operations of the Hercules Metal Works, located on
the West Side, below the Race Street Bridge. The company was in the business of
manufacturing high-grade brass, bronze, copper and metal castings.
In June, 1885, J. Arthur
Williams married Ida E. Corwin, daughter of Charles and Mary Elizabeth Corwin.
This union was blessed with the following children: Mabel, born April 13, 1886,
died April 19, 1886; Dorothy, born April, 1887, married a Mr. Kimble; Mildred,
born October, 1892, married a Mr. Lathrop; and John A.
J. Arthur Williams
served as treasurer for the Borough of Catasauqua and was an active member of
the Trinity Lutheran Church of Catasauqua. He and his family resided at 567
Howertown Road.
J. Arthur Williams
passed away on May 12, 1934, and his body was buried at Fairview Cemetery. His
wife, Ida (Corvin) Williams died on September 18, 1922, and her remains were
interred at Fairview Cemetery.
DAVID WILLIAM, Jr., son of David and Gwenney Williams, was born
in Landore, South Wales, on January 27, 1821. He came to this country with his
parents in 1833 and first resided at Schenectady, N. Y. He arrived in
Craneville during the year of 1840 and he found employment with the Lehigh
Crane Iron Company. In partnership with his brother, Oliver Williams, and
William P. Hopkins, they purchased the Union Foundry and Machine Company from
David Thomas in 1869. David Williams was appointed superintendent of the
foundry, which was located at the corner of Front and Pine Streets. During
Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania in 1863, David Williams served as a private in
Company B, 38th Pennsylvania Volunteers.
David Williams and, his
first wife, Mary were the parents of two sons: Robert, born 1850; and Walter
C., born November 17, 1853, he was employed by the Union Foundry and Machine
Company, becoming an invalid for several years before his death on April 2,
1903. Mary Williams died on July 28, 1855, and her remains were interred in the
Williams family plot at Fairview Cemetery.
David Williams married a
second time, his bride being Lucinda Snyder, daughter of Jonathan and Mary
Snyder. This union was blessed with the following children: Gertrude, born
1861, died 1934; Emma Caroline, born 1862, died 1863; John, born January 12,
1864, of further mention; Mary Cosgrove, born 1865, died in infancy; Agnes,
born April, 1866, married a Mr. Bennett, issue: (Chester, Ruth and David
Bennett); Susan, born 1867; Laura, born November, 1870; Lillian, married
William A. James, removed to Buffalo, N. Y.; Lulu, born 1874, died 1879;
Gwenifred, born April, 1876, died 1948; and Charles S., born 1877, served in
the Spanish-American War and served with the Y. M. C. A., Training College
during World War I removed to Gary, Indiana.
David Williams was
killed May 26, 1894, by falling out of a third floor window at his home,
located at the southeast corner of Second and Bridge Streets. His remains were
interred in the Williams family plot at Fairview Cemetery. Lucinda (Snyder)
Williams passed away on June 19, 1903, and her remains were also interred at
Fairview Cemetery.
JOHN WILLIAMS, son of David and Lucinda (Snyder) Williams,
was born on January 12, 1864. He was employed by the Union Foundry and Machine
Company as a pattern maker. He married Emily J. Dredge and from this marriage
were born the following children: Floyd M., born October 6, 1890, died April 5,
1909; D. Russel, born June 5, 1892, died December 5, 1903; David H., born
August 28, 1894, died December 4, 1903; Oliver C., born June 19, 1896; died
April 2, 1921. John Williams and his family resided at No. 207 Bridge Street.
He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Catasauqua and he also was
also a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 269.
John Williams passed
away on March 13, 1931, and his remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery. His
wife, Emily J. (Dredge) had preceded him in death, dying on December 22, 1903,
and her remains were also interred at Fairview Cemetery.
JOHN WILLIAMS, son of David and Gwenney Williams, was born in
Landore, South Wales, on November 20, 1824. He was brought to America by his
parents in 1833 and he resided with them at Schenectady, N. Y. At the age of
fourteen he entered the employ of John Fullagar of that city, as a clerk. In
1845, he followed his family to Catasauqua and he entered the office of the
Lehigh Crane Iron Company on November 14, 1845. His first duties were to weigh
the ore and limestone that was used to feed the furnaces. During 1849, he was
promoted to the position of Assistant Cashier; and in 1865 he was elevated to
the office of Cashier, performing these duties until his death.
John Williams was
actively connected to other enterprises in the borough. He participated in the
organization of the Catasauqua Manufacturing Company in 1863 and he was elected
secretary of the firm in 1867, serving as such until operations were ceased in
1892. He served as Passenger Agent for the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad
for many years and was a Director and later President of the Catasauqua Gas
Company. He was a Director and at the time of his death Vice-President of the
National Bank of Catasauqua, and President of the Fairview Cemetery Association.
John Williams was
elected Chief Burgess of Catasauqua in 1861, and he was re-elected each year
thru 1869. After a two-year hiatus he was again elected to this office in 1872
and he served as such thru 1873. He was a member of the First Presbyterian
Church of Catasauqua and was elected an elder in 1872; he also served as
Superintendent of the Sunday School for many years.
John Williams was united in marriage to Emma Caroline Heilig, daughter of Rev. George Heilig, on September 14, 1852. This union was blessed with the following children: David, born June, 1854, died September 24, 1855; Elizabeth, born October 1, 1856, married Frank M. Horn, died March 30, 1925; Ella, born June 13, 1861, died February 8, 1875; Annie, born April 15, 1863, married Edward D. Boyer, died March 12, 1938; John T., born December 10, 1865, of further mention; Edward, born May 10,
98
1868, died May 5, 1869; Roger, born March 1, 1869,
died November 16, 1885; and George H., born December
17, 1871, of further mention.
John and Emma (Heilig)
Williams first began housekeeping on Church Street in one of the Company homes.
They then set up house in the old David Thomas home, located at the southeast
corner of Front and Church Streets, in 1856. During the year of 1870 they
erected a large home at 325 Bridge Street, located on the south side of Bridge
Street, between Howertown Road and Crane Street.
John Williams passed
away on May 24, 1892, and his remains were interred in the Williams family plot
at Fairview Cemetery. Emma C. (Heilig) Williams died on September 29, 1913, and
her body was also buried at Fairview Cemetery.
JOHN T. WILLIAMS, son of John and Emma Caroline (Heilig)
Williams, was born on December 10, 1865. He was employed by the Crane Iron
Company as a weigh master, serving as such until his retirement.
John T. Williams wed
Lillian Metzgar, daughter of Thomas and Susan Metzgar, of Allentown. From this
union were born the following children: Kenneth, removed to Wheeling, West
Virginia; David, served in World War I, removed to New York City, where he
worked for the New York Sun; and Naomi, married a Dr. Heller and moved to
Kansas City. John T. Williams and his family resided at 540 Fourth Street.
John T. Williams passed
away on November 2, 1926, and his body was buried at Fairview Cemetery. Lilliam
(Metzgar) Williams died on May 17, 1919, and her remains were also buried at
Fairview Cemetery.
GEORGE HEILIG WILLIAMS, son of John and Emma Caroline (Heilig)
Williams, was born on December 17, 1871. After leaving school he was engaged in
various enterprises, but because of an illness of heart disease he lived
retired for some years. In 1905, George H. Williams along with Rowland T.
Davies and Winifred (Williams) Emanuel formed a limited partnership under the
name of the Catasauqua Real Estate Company, and as such in 1906, erected
sixteen fine brick dwelling-houses along Pine Street, between Limestone and
Third Street; Third Street, between Pine and Walnut Street; and Limestone
Street, between Pine and Walnut Street.
George H. Williams died
at the Pennsylvania Hotel, northeast corner of Second and Bridge Streets, on
March 7, 1919, and his remains were interred in the Williams family plot at
Fairview Cemetery.
OLIVER WILLIAMS, son of David and Gwenney Williams, was born in
South Wales on April 23, 1831. When he was a lad of two years his parents
brought him to America, settling at Schenectady, N. Y. He came to Craneville
with his parents in 1840, where he attended the local schools. During 1843 he
attended the old Allentown Academy, then under the care of Professor
McClenachan.
He then learned the
trade of iron moulder at which he worked until 1849, when he entered the
optical establishment of McAllister and Co., of Philadelphia, which he served
for three years. In 1853, he joined James W. Queen in establishing the J. W.
Queen Company.
During the year of 1855
Oliver Williams removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he came in contact with
Chester A. Arthur through whom he met R. L. Hardenburg, who induced him to
enter the leather business in Chicago in 1858. He remained in Chicago until
1867, when David Thomas, a life long friend of his and his family, offered him
a position of general manager of the Catasauqua Manufacturing Company. He was
elected as President of the firm in 1879 and he served this company
continuously for twenty-five years until all operations ceased in 1892.
In 1869, along with his
older brother, David Williams and William P. Hopkins, they purchased the Union
Foundry and Machine Company from David Thomas; and he served as President of
this firm until his death. He was also one of the organizers of the Bryden
Horse Shoe Company in 1882 and he served this firm as Treasurer and in 1884 he
was elected president, serving as such until his death. He was also
Vice-President of the Whitehall Portland Cement Company at Cementon and
President of the Cement Nation Bank at Siegfried (Northampton).
Oliver Williams was
united in marriage with Anna Heilig, daughter of John Heilig, Germantown, Pa.
This union was blessed with the following children: Winifred, born June, 1864,
married David L. Emanuel, issue: (Paul Williams Emanuel, born October 30, 1890,
served in World War I, died August 4, 1957; and Grace Emanuel, born June 10,
1895, married Charles Eneu Johnson II, died October 16, 1970), died April 21,
1931; Mabel, born March 22, 1866, died April 1,1879; Grace, born July 16, 1868,
married first Richard Otto Kohler, issue: (Anna Kohler, born May 26, 1904,
married Charles Eastman, died June 8, 1975), married second Pelham Harding,
died October 10, 1945; and Jessica, born March, 1870, married George Holton,
issue: (Oliver Williams Holton, Kathryn Holton, Jessica Williams Holton), died
February 16, 1955; and two sons that died in infancy.
Oliver Williams and his
family resided at 616 Second Street and he was an active member of the Trinity
Lutheran Church of Catasauqua. Oliver Williams passed away on September 17,
1904, and his remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery. His wife, Anna
(Heilig) Williams died on November 29, 1904, and her remains were also interred
at Fairview Cemetery.
A young man by the name
of John Thomas, a relative of David Thomas, fell from the top of the first
furnace, soon after its completion, and his body was interred in the rear of
the Presbyterian Church on Fifth Street in Allentown. He was borne on a bier on
the shoulders of relays of fellow employees, who wore high hats draped with
long streamers of crepe, as was the custom in Wales in those days. A long
procession of men and women followed the cortege on foot to the grave. After
the completion of the Thomas vault at Fairviev Cemetery the body was then
deposited in it.
Many prominent visitors
came to view the operations at the Crane Iron Works, some of which were: Simon
Cameron, U. S. Senator and Lincoln's Secretary of War; Horace Greeley,
journalist and political leader; Sir Morton Peto; and Dom Pedro, Emperor of
Brazil. For years it was the custom of the villagers to come out to watch the
evening cast.
Alonzo W. Kinsey, an
Englishman, was the first chemist at the furnaces. He also served as a teacher
in the public schools of the borough and he would astonish his students and
friends by washing his hands in a certain solution and then into molten iron,
which he splashed about him with his hands uninjured. At the request of Captain
"Bill" Jones, he went to the Carnegie Works, where he married a
second time, the mother of the wife of Charles M. Schwab, founder of the
Bethlehem Steel Corporation.
The first machinist at
the Lehigh Crane Iron Works was George Jenkins, who later accepted the position
of superintendent of the Boonton Iron Works, in New Jersey.
In the early days, coal
for the furnaces was piled by the canal, now opposite the Phoenix Forging
Company, in immense quantities. It was brought by canal-boats, and in the
winter placed on barrows, which were then taken on huge scows to the furnace.
This was done night and day throughout the entire winter. On one of the
mid-night trips, Hugh Dougherty was missing, and found drowned. This was the
first Catholic funeral in the town and the interment was made at Easton.
Isaac E. Chandler,
brother-in-law of John Fritz and co-partner in the Union Foundry and Machine
Company, also operated a blacksmith shop at the corner of Front and Bridge Streets,
later the engine-house of the Crane Railroad was erected there. In the first
election after the incorporation of the borough in 1853, he was elected Judge
of Elections.
In 1900, a company was
organized for the manufacture of a new metal out of a secret combination of
coppe and other materials, which was to be harder than steel. A plant was
erected and equipped with machinery along the Catasauqua Creek by Wood Street;
but after some experimentation the enterprise proved a total failure and much
money was lost. The O'Brien Rubber Thread and Webbing Company was then
organized, which secured the building and operated the plant for several years
and in July of 1913, the Leicester Rubber Company, of New Jersey, purchased the
building and equipment, but this venture was short lived when a fire completely
destroyed the building.
On the morning of
October 3, 1893 a Crane Iron Company locomotive was backing six empties west
through the Crane Iron Company's wooden covered bridge, with the signal
supposedly in its favor, when a Lehigh Valley coal extra struck the Crane
locomotive at the rear driver, killing the fireman. The watchman on duty at the
crossing at the time went home and committed suicide. Herbert James, employed
by the Crane Iron Works as a locomotive engineer, was permanently crippled from
the accident.
The name Catasauqua was
adopted by the community from a suggestion made by Owen Rice, Cashier of the
Lehigh Crane Iron Works. He had written deeds for many people in and about
town. Through these services, he learned from drafts made as early as 1735, and
from later drawings, that the creek flowing through the village was called
'Cattosoque.' In the dialect of the Lenni-Lenape tribe of Indiana who first
inhabited this section of the country, it was named 'Gattoshoci, ' which is
said to mean 'wants rain. ' Others have defined the term as signifying 'dry' or
'burnt ground, ' and as 'sinking waters. '
After hearing that a
countryman by the name David Thomas was running the Lehigh Crane Iron Works,
Morgan Emanuel, Sr. was then determined to come to town in quest of a job.
While walking down Front Street, just above Church Street, he met Mr. Thomas
and accosted him in Welsh, "Are you Mr. Thomas?" Mr. Thomas replied,
"Yes, and who are you?" "I am Morgan Emanuel and came from the
coal regions in hope that you would give me a job." Mr. Thomas said,
"I am sorry, my friend, but we do not have much work at present."
"Oh, that is all right, I do not need much work." Upon this rejoinder
Mr. Thomas employed him at once.
For a number of years
George W. Bogh and his brothers operated a corn-whiskey distillery in East
Catasauqua, on the north side of Race Street next to the Catasauqua Creek. This
afforded the farmers of the community a good market for their corn, and a very
desirable place for hog feeding. Farmers marked their pigs and brought them to
the distillery where they were fattened and when fit for slaughter they were
brought home and butchered. During the fall and winter seasons there were as
many as a thousand hogs in the pens of the distillery at one time. This is why
years ago the nickname 'Hogtown' was given to the Third Ward. At one time
cholera broke out among the hogs and they died like flies. Their carcasses were
hauled to an old ore mine near Schoenersville. Exorbitant taxation and growing
restrictions caused the proprietors to desist from distilling any more
'Bolinky.' About 1860, John H. Knauss and a Mr. Harwig associated together as
Knauss and Harwig, to conduct a planning mill business at this site. They
operated the plant for several years, then Mr. Knauss became sole owner; but he
had just assumed the ownership when it was destroyed by fire through little
children playing with matches around the mill, and it was a total loss because
the insurance policies were not promptly transferred to him. After the fire the
site was secured by Daniel Davies in 1865 for a foundry and machine shop.
Alexander F. Hazard,
eldest son of Erskine Hazard, and who had traveled with his father to Wales and
witnessed the agreement signed by David Thomas on the 31st of December 1838,
removed to Catasauqua on or about 1890. He had been a resident of Philadelphia
for many years, where, at one time he conducted a wholesale drug house, he
having in his earlier days studied pharmacy. Arriving in Catasauqua he found
employment at the Crane Iron Works as a watchman, and he resided alone on Wood
Street; his eccentricities kept him away from his relatives, who endeavored to
bestow every comfort on the old man. After a short illness, Alexander F. Hazard
passed away in 1910, in his 87th year, at the home of John Hopkins, Second
Street. He was survived by a son Dr. Alexander Hazard, of Philadelphia, and two
sisters, Mrs. Samuel Dickson and Mrs. Coxe, of Philadelphia, and his remains
were interred in the family plot at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia. With
his death, the last connecting cord to the original participants in the
founding of the Lehigh Crane Iron Company was severed.
James Gayley,
superintendent of the Edgar Thompson Works at Braddock, and who had been with
Captain "Bill" Jones at the time of his fatal accident, had served as
a chemist at the Crane Iron Works, leaving the employ of the said company in
1880.
The railroad tower,
located on the West Side, south of the iron railroad bridge, was abandoned on
April 16, 1958. The neglected tower was totally destroyed by an intense fire
late in the evening of May 7, 1960.
With the expansion of
the iron works it was found necessary to move the canal bridge to the north.
The question then was how to remove the bridge to the new location, and Samuel
Glace, who at that time was an experienced superintendent on the canal, solved
it. He waited until the boating season was over; then he placed two empty boats
under the bridge and drew the water from the canal, which put the boats on the
ground; then he placed long blocks on the boats and covered them with planks;
then the water was let into the canal, which raised the boats and put the
bridge up in the air and then the bridge was easily drawn to its new position.
In 1856, Captain Joseph
Matchette became a fireman on the Crane Railroad's first locomotive (Hercules),
which was used to carry materials to the furnaces. He was then given a position
on the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad, where he fired the 'Catasauqua,'
afterwards running this engine and later the 'Macungie.' Shortly before the
outbreak of the Civil War he began work in the machine shops of the railroad.
After returning home in 1865, from the war, he was soon appointed superintendent
of the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad, serving as such until 1867, when he
resigned and was replaced by Charles W. Chapman.
The Crane Iron Works
provided the Borough of Catasauqua with the sobriquets of the "Iron
Borough" and the "Million Dollar Town," but other businesses
also played an important role in the history of the borough. Along with the
allied iron businesses, there were two breweries, several lumber yards and
planing mills, brick works, an ice plant, a rubber works and five silk mills
that either were located in the borough or associated with residents of the
town. The community also had several coal yards and numerous small businesses
that employed many of the citizens of the borough.
Although most of the
buildings are now gone and the rails and ties have been replaced with weeds, a person
can still walk the streets of the borough on a warm summer night and visualize
what was, and wonder what if?
Allentown Morning Call
(micro film)
Bartholomew, Craig L. and Lance E. Metz, "The Anthracite Iron Industry of the Lehigh Valley,"
Center for Canal History and Technology, Harmony Press, Phillipsburg, NJ, 1988
Burkhardt, Roberta, and
Gemmel, Judy, "A Profile of the Boroughs - Catasauqua & North
Catasauqua," 1992
Catasauqua Dispatch
(micro film)
Glace, William H., "Early
History and Reminiscences of Catasauqua in Pennsylvania," Searle and Dressler Co.
Inc., Allentown, Pa, 1914
Illustrated Atlas of
Lehigh County - Map of Catasauqua 1876
Jordan, J.
W., E. M. Green, and G. T. Ettinger, "Historic Homes and Institutions and
Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of The Lehigh Valley," The Lewis
Publishing Co., New York, 1905, Vols 1 and 2.
Lambert,
James F., and Reinhard, Henry J., "A History of Catasauqua in Lehigh
County Pennsylvania," Searle and Dressler, Allentown, 1914.
Matthews, Alfred
and Austin N. Hungerford, "History of the Counties of Lehigh & Carbon,
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," Everts & Richards (Lippincott),
Philadelphia, 1884.
"Our Town,
Centennial History of Catasauqua, Pennsylvania," 1953
"Portrait and
Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties," Chapman
Publishing Co., 1894
Roberts,
C. R., J. B. Stoudt, T. H. Krick,
and W. J. Dietrich, "History of Lehigh County Pennsylvania and a Genealogical
and Biographical Record of ItÕs Families," Lehigh Valley Publishing
Company, LTD., Allentown, Pa., 1914, Vols 1-3
Yurko, Joe,
"Catasauqua - Crossroads of the Anthracite Railroads," Flags,
Diamonds and Statues, Issues No. 23 and No. 24, Published by the Anthracite
Railroads Historical Society, Inc., 1986