Lehigh County has Numerous Aged Couples But Upper Milford Township Can Boast of Having the Oldest Married Couple in That Section of the County - Mr. and Mrs. John M. ROEDER, of Near Zionsville, Will Soon be Able to Celebrate Their Wedding Anniversary.
[Picture - Mr. and Mrs. John M. ROEDER]
John M. ROEDER and his wife Christina, born Schuyler, who reside with their son Lewis S. ROEDER, near New Zionsville, Lehigh county, Pa., will have lived together in happy married life fifty-eight years if they will survive until the 25th of March, 1903. They are still well preserved old people for their age and still maintain their own household as they did for many years. Mrs. ROEDER is very apt with her needle and passes her time in making bonnets and doing patch work. Many of her friends and relatives are proud to own a blanket made by her hand. John ROEDER was the son of John ROEDER, and his wife Magdalena, a born MARSTELLER. He was born September 30, 1816, near Hosensack, Upper Milford township, Lehigh county, now changed to Lower Milford. He was baptized by Rev. BONDERSCHLOT, December 22, 1816, at the New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church, near East Greenville, and as was customary then his sponsors were Henry CHRISTMAN and his wife Maria. He attended the public school where the Schwenkfelder meeting house now stands. The lessons and tasks of the master have ended and the old school house has long been removed. At the age of 29, he entered the holy bonds of wedlock with Christina SCHUYLER, at the parsonage of Rev. Daniel ZELLER, Allentown, Pa., on March 25, 1845. They started housekeeping on the farm near Hosensack where their son Isaac now resides. They continued to farm there for thirty years when they moved on a tract of land close by where their son-in-law Henry HANGEN now lives, who was once a candidate for Jury Commissioner and is a popular politician of the lower end of Lehigh county. They lived there for about eleven years when they moved to their son, Lewis S. ROEDER, near Zionsville, where they have lived ever since. Mr. ROEDER had four brothers, Solomon, Jonathan, David and Thomas, which are all dead except Thomas, who lives in the village of New Zionsville. He had three sisters, Mrs. James WIEAND, Mrs. David SCHUYLER and Mrs. Samuel SCHUYLER, all dead. His father died at the age of 74 years and his mother brought her age to 82 years. He was confirmed in the faith of the Reformed church by Rev. Daniel WIESER at the Goshenhoppen church near East Greenville, where he continued his membership up to the time of Rev. Clement Z. WEISER's death when he connected himself to the Reformed Church at Old Zionsville, being more convenient for him. He was always a Democrat and cannot remember of having ever missed a presidential election in his life. Christina, his wife, was the daughter of Ludwig SCHUYLER, and his wife Anna, a born GEISSINGER. She was born on June 26, 1822, near Dillingersville, Lower Milford township, where William KLEINSMITH now lives, and was formerly owned by H.H. BOYER, of Vera Cruz. She was baptized by Rev. ZELLER on July 28, 1822, the sponsors being George SCHUYLER and his wife Magdelina. She was the only daughter, but had three brothers, Eli, Peter and David, who was well known and who died about a year ago from the effects of a railroad accident at Centre Valley. They were blessed with four children. Jonathan died in infancy. All the rest are living and stand high in the social and political circles. Isaac S. ROEDER still resides on the old farm where his father started out fifty-eight years ago. He was school director for many years in his township and is a very active politician. He is farming and in connection stand high in the social and political circles. Mr. ROEDER was a member of the school board for four terms and then became justice of the peace, defeating Squire KNELLER. He was before the people of Lehigh county as a candidate for clerk of the orphans' court, receiving the second highest vote. Marianna, the only daughter, is married to Henry E. HANGEN, and lives near Hosensack. The aged couple have thirteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mrs. ROEDER is in her eighty-first year and Mr. ROEDER is in his eighty-seventh.
Charles CASSEL, a young boy, residing near Vernfield, this county met with a serious accident one day this week while on his way to school. The little boy is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin CASSEL, and he accompanied his brother, who was on the way to the creamery, as far as the school house. The boy was sitting in the rear of the milk wagon and when near the school house the horse made a sudden dash or jerk, which caused the boy to be thrown from the wagon. The lad fell on his head and was dazed by the fall. He was removed to the home of his parents and a physician summoned who attended to the injuries which are of a serious nature.
Isaac CLEAVER, of near Niantic, gives us a short account of the eggs and chickens which he raised during the year 1902. During this last year he sold $818.42 worth of eggs and chickens, $108.51 of this being for chickens. He sold 905 pounds of chickens which realized $108.51. Some of these being spring chickens, he realized as high as 35 cents a pound for them. The lowest sold were at 10 cents a pound for old hens. Mr. CLEAVER sold 3732 1/4 dozen of eggs this last year, these realizing to $709.91, an average of a little over 19 cents a dozen. These eggs he raised from a little more than four hundred chickens. He also uses a great many eggs for hatching and family use which he does not include in these figures. During the last nine years Mr. CLEAVER sold $5,746.08 worth of eggs and chickens, all of which he raised himself. He gained each year a great deal, but this year he gained the most. Anyone not believing the above statement to be true can call on Mr. CLEAVER, as he keeps a fair account in his books and he is any time willing to show his books and also his poultry stock to his friends. ----- For a number of years Dr. John G. ROSENBERRY, of Skippack, has been in the habit of keeping a careful account of the daily egg production of his chickens. Dr. ROSENBERRY has tried various breeds of chickens, including the Plymouth Rock, Buff and Brown Leghorn. He is convinced, from experience had, that the Brown Leghorn is the most profitable egg producer for him to keep. At present his flock is composed of the last named breed. There are about 90 laying hens - 86 to be accurate. During the month of December the doctor sold 60 1/2 dozen eggs, receiving for them $20.06, or an average of 33 cents per dozen. From January 1st, 1902, to January 1st, 1903, the eggs sold from the same number of hens aggregated 874 dozen, for which was received $199.33; poultry sold, $70.93. Total for eggs and poultry sold, $260.26. The lowest figure for eggs during the year was 15 cents and the highest 33 cents. The average price for the year was between 21 1/2 and 22 cents.
While shoeing a horse recently, Edwin FRYER a blacksmith, of Sassamansville, slightly scratched his finger with a nail. The wound being slight, FRYER continued at work until blood poison developed. The member was amputated but too late, as subsequently the arm was affected and that member was amputated near the elbow on Friday. The operation was performed by Drs. J.B. RHOADS and R. LEFEVERE, of Boyertown, O.C. HEFFNER, of Pottstown, and Curtis HEFFNER, of Sassamansville.
Postmaster SCHLICHTER, of Sellersville, and editor E.E. ALTHOUSE, of the Sellersville Herald, will start a new paper at Emaus, Lehigh county, in the near future. The paper will be known as The Herald. We hope The Herald will be able to survive longer than either of its four predecessors who have sprung up in the thriving borough, during the past fifteen years.
Christian H. SCHELLY, of Milford Square on Thursday morning met with an accident while delivering a load of hay to Allentown. His team collided with a trolley car. The leader was caught in the car fender, one leg going through the bars and the corner of the car and two windows were smashed. No serious damage resulted.
The entire family of postmaster Henry H. RENNINGER, of Sassamansville, is down with typhoid fever. The family consists of eight, including Mr. RENNINGER. He, however, does not have the fever. One daughter died several weeks ago.
Mrs. John DUBBS, of East Greenville, fell on Tuesday while going down the back yard at her home and fractured a bone in her arm. She was carrying her child at the time, but it was not injured.
Boyertown, which office he has filled for the past 27 years.
Oscar F. BERND (picture), whose resignation as organist of St. John's Lutheran church, of near Spinnerstown, will take effect tomorrow, comes of a family of church musicians, his father and grandfather having served in that capacity before him. Mr. BERND continues as organist of St. Paul's Lutheran church where he has been since 1888. Mr. BERND was born in Upper Saucon township, Lehigh county, in 1860, his father being M.G. BERND who is the present organist at Trinity Reformed church, at Spinnerstown. When the youthful BERND was 7 years old his parents moved to near Spinnerstown where the boy received an education in the public schools, and a musicial course under his father's preceptorship. When he was 14 years old he commenced lessons on the three manual pipe organ in St. John's Lutheran church, at Allentown, and received much praise from his teacher, Prof. C.F. HERRMANN. In 1877 Mr. BERND was elected organist in St. John's Lutheran Sunday school at Spinnerstown and continued there until 1882, when he was chosen organist for the church. In 1884 he came to the St. Paul's Lutheran church and by his devotion to his art has made a name throughout the Perkiomen Valley. During his career Mr. BERND has been a member of different musical organizations, orchestras, sextettes and brass-bands, and has instructed many organizations and persons on many different instruments. Mr. BERND's grandfather, George BERND, was organist of St. Paul's church for a period of 17 years. For 75 years the name BERND has been associated in this vicinity with the organists and musicians and the members of St. John's congregation are sorry to lose the services of the youngest member of this conspicuous family.
Dr. Irvin L. BENNER, of Sellersville, died at the home of his parents at Iron Aill, Lehigh county, on Friday afternoon after a brief illness of typhoid fever. He was born March 26th 1872, and was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Medical college. Soon after graduation Dr. BENNER began the practice of his profession at Sellersville. Dr. BENNER was an active member of Sellersville Lodges, I.O.O.F., K. of G.E. and P.O.S. of A. With his wife there survive the parents of deceased.
Solomon GERY, one of the oldest citizens of Hereford, Berks county, died on Saturday, of dropsy, aged 86 years, 5 months and 12 days. He was a son of Jacob and Elizabeth GERY. He was bedfast only one week and was nearly blind for many years. He was the last of a family of four children: Miss Sallie GERY, Aaron GERY and Mrs. John BITTENBENDER, all of Hereford. The funeral will be held this morning at Huff's church, at 10 o'clock. Rev. O.R. FRANTZ, of Zionsville, will officiate.
Mrs. Hannah FREDERICK, of Gilbertsville, died suddenly of asthma and a paralytic stroke hastened the end. The funeral was held on Thursday at her late home. Services were conducted at the St. John's Lutheran church, at Boyertown. Interment in the Fairview cemetery.
John HERSH, Sr., of East Greenville, on Wednesday celebrated the eighty-second anniversary of his birth at his home in that borough and received the congratulations of many friends.
Almoran K. REED, the manager of the Hillegass Dairymen Association's creamery, at Hillegass, was surprised on Wednesday morning when he came to the creamery to find the door unlocked. He entered and soon saw that some one had been in the creamery since he left it the evening before. He found the door leading to a cave in which the butter is stored also unlocked and when a close examination was made he saw that one hundred and two pounds of butter had been stolen. The thief unlocked three doors with as many different keys in order to get at the butter. One peculiarity of the theft is that not more butter was stolen as the cave contained almost six hundred pounds. The management of the creamery have had their suspicions aroused and it is quite likely that the perpetrator of the deed will be arrested one of these days.
Issac JAFFE, the foreman in the Sultzberg, Oppenheimer cigar factory, of Pennsburg, has received a similar position with the same firm in their factory at Philadelphia. He entered upon his duties on Thursday. He will move to the city in April. H. ZEPPENFIELD, of Philadelphia, formerly of Allentown has been engaged to succeed Mr. JAFFE at the Pennsburg factory. He entered upon his duties on Wednesday.
One of Rothenberger Bros.' horses, of Harlem, kicked Lewis ROTHENBERGER on the arm one day this week and the force was so great as to fracture the bone in the arm at two places. Dr. J.A. ROTH, of Siesholtzville reduced the fracture.
A permanent organization of the Souderton district of the Montgomery Sunday School Association was formed at Skippack by the election of Rev. A.M. FRETZ, President; Daniel LUCKENBILL, Secretary, and A.G. REIFF, Treasurer.
The family of Herman S. HILLEGASS, of Pennsburg, as well as the residents of the entire borough were placed in a predicament on Friday evening, when it became known that their daughter Mamie, a school teacher at Warner's school, near East Greenville, was nowhere to be found. Contrary to her custom she did not return to her home on Friday evening. After it grew late and she did not make her appearance, neighbors were informed of the fact and a searching party of ten was made up. They went to the school house and there noticed that she had left the place with her dinner box, but one shutter and window were not bolted. Their suspicions were further aroused when they were informed by neighbors that she was seen sweeping the porch floor at about five o'clock. The searching party then covered a large area of ground thinking she might have wandered from the street and lost her way in the fields. No trace could be found and shortly after midnight the searching party returned to their homes. Early Saturday morning, her father and brother made another trip towards the school house and on their way they met the lost daughter and sister. She had stopped at a farmer's house for the night, but never suspected that her family might be looking for her.
The fight for the nomination of supervisors of Marlboro township which was so narrowly contested was won by the present supervisors, John SOWERS, of Sumneytown, and Edwin UNDERCOFFLER, of Hoppenville. The former received 56 votes, the latter 62, while John ZEPP and James SELL, the two other candidates received 45 and 43 respectively. There were one hundred and seventeen votes polled. Should Mr. SOWERS be elected which he undoubtedly will, it will be his thirtieth consecutive year that he was elected to the supervisorship of Marlboro.
Harvey KLINE, clerk at the Globe Hotel, East Greenville, will start the butchering business in Pennsburg, in April. Mr. KLINE has leased the premises on Main street from Wm. XANDER now tenanted by E. WEISS. This week he purchased two delivery wagons from the Pennsburg Carriage Bazaar and they were lettered by artist Jesse RENNINGER, of Hillegass.
Jesse N. GERHART, of Hoppenville, expects to build a double house on his lot on Seminary street, in this borough. He this week purchased the property of E.W.C. ROTH, of near Hoppenville, which was formerly used as a planing mill by Wm. BARTH, and that lumber will be used on the new building.
John K. HILLEGASS, a farmer residing at Geryville, is suffering from blood poisoning. Several days ago Mr. HILLEGASS accidentally scratched his leg on a protruding nail and the wound gradually grew sore until now he is suffering with blood poisoning.
A horrible railroad wreck occured on the New Jersey Central, near Westfield New Jersey, on Tuesday evening when a Philadelphia express went crashing into a local bound train for Easton. The engineer ignored all block signals which is the direct cause of the wreck. Twenty-two passengers were killed outright and about fifty more injured.
The Republicans of Pennsburg made the following nominations at a meeting on Monday evening: Town Council, H.W. STETLER and C.M. REED; School Director, Oliver SCHANTZ and George WALKER; Judge, William B. DIEHL; Inspector, Clarence HUNSBERGER; Auditor, D.S. KERN.
The Lehigh Valley Traction Company has equipped its large cars, which make the run from Allentown to Philadelphia, with toilet rooms. These cars will be put into service before summer.
Two freight cars were derailed in front of the Pennsburg Depot on Saturday evening. The crew worked almost two hours before the track could be cleared. The passenger train north was compelled to lay off until the cars were again on the track.
Jesse RENNINGER, of Hillegass, will build a double dwelling house on Seminary street, Pennsburg, this summer.
Not in many years have there been so many cases of illness in this vicinity as there are now and not in many years have the physicians had so much work to do. The mild, moist weather of the early and middle part of the week had a marvelously bad effect on the health of the people of the Perkiomen Valley. Grippe has made a victim in almost every household and is worse than the grippe epidemic of several years ago. Colds and coughs are common everywhere and especially among children. The public schools have suffered grievously from this and the attendance has been slight every day this week. Not in many years have the physicians been so busy as now, and many of them are kept out from early morning until midnight. Dr. John G. HERSH, of East Greenville, had forty-six different patients to visit on Tuesday. That gives an idea of the extent of the present epidemic of illness.
Eighth street in Allentown, will soon be so crowded with professional men, such as physicians, surgeons and dentists that that portion between Walnut and Gordon streets, will not be visited by any one but those who have aches and pains. There are at present eighteen doctors and dentists living between these streets and in April Dr. E.H. DICKENSHIED, of N. 9th street, will also move there. By fall Dr. Williard KLINE will also locate on the same street which will then make the total of twenty professional men on one street within a distance of five blocks.
Last week a German tramp was arrested at Lebanon City upon acting very suspicious about a jewelry stores in that city about 12.30 o'clock at night. When taken to the City Hall and examined he was found to have with him a lot of jewelry, cutlery, etc. On Tuesday I.T. HALDEMAN and Garret H. BERGEY, of Lederachville, were sent to Lebanon and identified the goods as the ones stolen at Reiff's store, Lederachville, on December 2nd. The prisoner is in the Lebanon county jail and will be brought to Montgomery county for trail in a few weeks.
An employee of the Delaware & Atlantic Telegraph and Telephone Company met with a painful accident one day this week while he was trimming shade trees in the borough of Red Hill. The axe glanced off at a limb and the blade struck his head making an ugly gash. Dr. W.H. HUNSBERGER of Pennsburg, was summoned placed a few stitches and dressed the wound.
New Hanover township has three candidates for justice of the peace. They are J. Lawrence GEIST, J.H.S. ZERN and H.S. KNAUSE. Each candidate is doing his best in order to be elected and it looks as though the vote would be a very close one between the three.
Thieves on Thursday night of last week entered the barn of Jonas HARING, near Hillegass, and stole all the bran in the bin and also a large quantity of corn. This is the second time that the barn was robbed of bran, etc.
The Chestnut Hill church, located near Plover, Lehigh county, had a miraculous escape from being destroyed by fire on Sunday. During the services one of the stove pipes ignited some woodwork and the flames started on their destructive work. Luckily the fire was noticed by some one in the audience and an alarm was raised. Willing hands were soon at work and the fire was extinguished before any serious damage was done. Had the fire not broken out at the time of service, but shortly after, the chances are that the entire building would have become a prey to the flames.
Conrad BORNEMAN, of Emaus, a retired barber, is the owner of an overcoat thirty-one year old. He had it made out of the best material, and has worn it every winter since. It is in good condition, and promises to outlast the owner.
The explosion of an oil heater in the infant department of St. John's Lutheran Church, Perkasie, caused damage, amounting to $100.
Frank M. XANDER, of Souderton, who has been employed as foreman in the Independent office the past three months, has tendered his resignation and will assume charge of the management of a new newspaper, which will be started at Emaus, Lehigh county, by W.S. SCHLICHTER, of Sellersville.
Henry K. FREED, of Pleasant Run, has been exceptionally busy during the butchering season. He has thus far slaughtered 93 hogs and 16 head of cattle for the farmers in the vicinity of Pleasant Run. Mr. FREED is considered one of the best butchers in that section.
George W. TITLOW and wife quietly celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding Saturday at their home in Willow Grove. On January 24th, 1853, they took the marriage vows and for many years lived at Rising Sun, Philadelphia, but for the past seven years have resided at Willow Grove. They are both hearty and well, Mrs. TITLOW looking after her duties about the house and Mr. TITLOW being extensively engaged in the stock droving business, which business was followed by his father and grandfather. They are perhaps the youngest couple in Montgomery county who have celebrated their golden wedding. Mr. TITLOW was born in 1835 and is 68 years old, and his wife Emma E., was born in 1836 and is 67 years old. They were respectively 18 and 17 years old when married. They have no children living. Mr. TITLOW is well known in the vicinity of Pennsburg. He comes to this section quite frequently to purchase fat cattle.
Ambler, Jenkintown, Lansdale, North Wales, Perkasie, Quakertown, Doylestown and Hatboro have organized a North Penn Base Ball League. A meeting was recently held in Lansdale, when the following officers were elected: President, Henry LONGAKER, of Landale; Vice President, Ellsworth KOCKERSPERGER, of Doylestown; Treasurer, S.S. HALLMAN, of Quakertown. A representative of each of the eight clubs in the league was appointed on the committee on by-laws, which will hold a meeting some time in the near future.
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