Lives of Workers

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Many workers were required to help the various forges and furnaces operate smoothly. A brief overview of some of the individuals who were involved with the Lehigh Furnace, East Penn Forge, and East Penn Furnace can be found below.

East Penn Township, Carbon County, PA

John Bachman (1820-1863)[1]

John Bachman was listed in the 1860 census as a collier in East Penn township. Colliers were essential to charcoal production and typically lived in collier huts. According to the 1860 Census, John Bachman was approximately forty years old and was living with his wife Mary, and his eleven children ages four months to nineteen years[2][1]. In the 1870 Census of East Pen Township Mary was listed as keeping house with six children, aged eight to twenty-three, and had $325 in real estate[2]. One of John Bachman's daughters who was listed under him in the 1860 Census was listed in the 1870 Census as a domestic servant in Issac Dengler's home[3][3]. The Bachman family remained in East Penn following the death of John Bachman. In the 1880 Census of East Penn Township Mary was listed as living in the township with four children[4][4].

Christian Freeby (circa 1825 - April 1887)[5]

Christian Freeby was listed in the 1860 Census as a forgeman in East Penn Township. He was approximately thirty-five years old and was living with his wife Jeannette (Decker) Freeby, whom he married in July of 1848[6], and four children[7]. He followed in his father's footsteps, as the elder Christian Freeby (1776-1880)[8][5] had been a forgeman also. The senior Freeby lived to be over one hundred and was still walking into town to get supplies in his nineties[9]. Christian Freeby owned land adjacent to the Balliet family in East Penn Township[10]. Prior to working as a forgeman, Christian Freeby was noted in the 1850 Census as being a blacksmith[11]. Christian Freeby took time from his work to serve in the Civil War as a second lieutenant in Company A, Fourth Regiment of the Pennsylvania Cavalry, 64th Volunteers[12].

Edwin & Josiah Lauer

Brothers Edwin and Josiah Lauer were listed in the 1870 Census of East Penn Township as working in a furnace. Edwin was approximately twenty-two years old and Josiah approximately eighteen years old. They were living with their father William Lauer [13], mother Barbara (Fenstermacher) (1808-1899)[14], and three others [15][6].

Joseph McFarling

Joseph McFarling's occupation was listed as burning charcoal in the 1870 Census of East Penn Township. He was living with his wife Mary and five kids ages two to twelve[16][7].

George Reichard (1808-1883)

George Reichard was listed as a forgeman in the 1860 Census of East Penn Township. He was listed as being approximately fifty-four years of age and residing with his wife Lydia Ann (1828-1886) and six children. His real estate was valued at one hundred dollars and his personal estate was valued at two hundred dollars[17][8]. George Reichard was married twice, first to Esther (Frantz) Reichard (1810-1847)[18][9]. In the 1880 Census of East Penn Township George Reichard was listed as working at a furnace[19][10].

Simon Reichert

In the 1860 Census of East Penn Township Simon Reichart was listed as a forgeman. He was listed as residing with his wife Rebecca and his six children. It was noted that his real estate was valued at three hundred dollars and his personal estate at one hundred dollars[20][11].

Daniel Schoch

In the 1870 Census of East Penn Township Daniel Schoch was listed as working in an iron mine. He was living with his wife Maria and two children[21][12].

Gideon Youse (Gaus)

Gideon Youse was listed in the 1850 Census of East Penn Township as a forgeman. He was listed as residing with his wife Magdaline and their six children ages five to nineteen[22][13]. In the 1860 Census Gideon Youse was listed as a laborer[14]. His son Gideon Youse Jr. was noted a laborer in the home of George Balliet, a farmer[23][15]. Gideon Youse and his wife Magdaline were listed in the 1870 Census, him as a laborer and her as keeping house, with their real estate valued at four hundred dollars[24][16]. In the 1880 Census of East Penn Township Gideon Youse was listed as a boarder in the house of Levi Guldner. His occupation was listed as "worker in furnace"[25][17].

1880 Census

Over time the demand for furnaces fluctuated. As some furnaces shut down others were being put into blast. As census records did not list the exact name of the furnaces that people in the township worked at, it becomes difficult to discern if individuals in later censuses were employed by the furnaces that this research is concerned with. Iron production was an important industry in the area, as is illustrated by census records. By the 1880 Census, the number of individuals listed as having an occupation related to the iron industry had increased dramatically. The following individuals are those who are listed in the 1880 Census of East Penn Township[26] as working in the industry:

Peter Bowman (Keeper at Furnace) [18]

Alvin Gombert (Works in Iron Ore Mines)[19]

John & John J. Gouger (Works at Furnace)[20]

Hiram Kolb (Charcoal Burner) [21]

Nathan Kolb (Charcoal Burner)[22]

Augustus Lassman (Superintendent of Iron Ore Mine)[23]

Edwin Loch (Charcoal Burner)[24]

Abraham Moyer (Charcoal Burner)[25]

John Wahl (Works in Furnace)[26]

Heidelburg Township, Lehigh County, PA

Isaac Moyer

In the 1860 Census of Heidelburg Township Isaac Moyer was listed as a charcoal burner. He was approximately forty-four years of age at the time and resided with his wife Catharine and five children[27][27]. It was reported in 1877 that Isaac Moyer was thrown from a load of grain and subsequently sustained a leg fracture. He was residing in Amity Township, Berks County at the time of the accident[28].

Lucas Raeder

In the 1860 Census of Heidelburg Township Lucas Raeder's occupation was listed as a furnace laborer. He was approximately sixty years of age and was listed as residing with his wife Eve and one daughter[29][28].

Solomon Zimmerman (1811-1896)[30]

In the 1860 Census of Heidelburg Township Solomon Zimmerman was listed as being a superintendent of a foundry. He lived with his wife Anna Maria "Polly" (Bittner) Zimmerman (1819-1908)[31][29] and his three children[32][30].

Washington Township, Lehigh County, PA

David Hettinger

David Hettinger was listed in the 1860 Census of Washington Township as a laborer at a furnace. He was approximaetly fifty-five years of age and lived with his wife Catharine and a ten year old boy named Oswell Laub[33][31].

Abraham Neff

Abraham Neff was listed in the 1860 Census of Washington Township as a feeder at a furnace. He lived with his wife Eliza (Haack) Neff (1823-1907)[34] and six family members[35][32].

Reuben Neff (1828-1892)[36]

In the 1860 Census of Washington Township Reuben Neff was listed as a laborer at a furnace. He lived with his wife Mazina and four children, newborn to eleven years old[37][33]. In 1881 he was appointed to the Republican County Committee with Jas Balliet.

Samuel & Levi Paulus

In the 1860 Census of Washington Township Samuel and Levi Paulus, father and son, were listed as laborers in furnaces. Levi lived with his parents and three brothers[38][34].

Joel Schnable (1815-1890)[39]

Joel Schnable was listed in the 1860 Census of Washington Township as a coal burner. He lived with his wife Catharine (1820-1888)[40] and four children aged two to sixteen[41][35].

Reuben & Tobias Werdt

Reuben and Tobias Werdt were listed in the 1860 Census of Washington Township as coal burners. They resided in their mother Elizabeth's house with five siblings.

Notes

  1. ↑ Find A Grave
  2. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  3. ↑ United State Census, 1870
  4. ↑ United States Census, 1880
  5. ↑ United States Records of Headstones of Deceased Union Veterans, 1879-1903
  6. ↑ Pennsylvania Marriages, 1709-1940
  7. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  8. ↑ Find a Grave
  9. ↑ The Carbon Advocate August 16, 1879
  10. ↑ The Carbon Advocate December 6, 1890
  11. ↑ United States Census, 1850
  12. ↑ United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865
  13. ↑ United States Census, 1870
  14. ↑ Reading Times March 11, 1899
  15. ↑ United States Census, 1870
  16. ↑ United States Census, 1870
  17. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  18. ↑ Find A Grave
  19. ↑ United States Census
  20. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  21. ↑ United States Census, 1870
  22. ↑ United States Census, 1850
  23. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  24. ↑ United States Census, 1870
  25. ↑ United States Census
  26. ↑ United States Census, 1880
  27. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  28. ↑ Reading Times July 18, 1877
  29. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  30. ↑ Find A Grave
  31. ↑ Find A Grave
  32. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  33. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  34. ↑ Find a Grave
  35. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  36. ↑ Find A Grave
  37. ↑ United States Census,1860
  38. ↑ United States Census, 1860
  39. ↑ Find a Grave
  40. ↑ Find A Grave
  41. ↑ United States Census, 1860

References

  • The Carbon Advocate. 1879. Local and Personal, August 16, 1879.[36]
  • The Carbon Advocate. 1890. Orphans' Court Sale of Very Valuable Real Estate! December 6, 1890.[37]
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 30 June 2020), memorial page for John Bachman (10 Jun 1820–28 Mar 1863), Find a Grave Memorial no. 190277386, citing Dinkey Memorial Cemetery, Lehighton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Gladys Ivory (contributor 47571225).[38]
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 26 June 2020), memorial page for Christian Freeby (25 Dec 1776–4 Nov 1880), Find a Grave Memorial no. 39113054, citing Dinkey Memorial Cemetery, Lehighton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Dawsonlm (contributor 47041997).[39]
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 07 July 2020), memorial page for Eliza Haak Neff (14 Dec 1823–9 Jun 1907), Find a Grave Memorial no. 135608349, citing Slatedale Cemetery, Slatedale, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Lois Revenaugh (contributor 46922006). [40]
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 07 July 2020), memorial page for Reuben Neff (15 Nov 1828–4 Apr 1892), Find a Grave Memorial no. 145118785, citing Heidelberg Union Cemetery (Heidelberg), Slatington, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Pat D. (contributor 48072349).[41]
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 30 June 2020), memorial page for George Reichard (9 Feb 1808–26 Jun 1883), Find a Grave Memorial no. 71709103, citing Ben Salem Cemetery, Lehighton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by LShue (contributor 48362505).[42]
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 07 July 2020), memorial page for Catharine Schnable (16 Jan 1820–20 Mar 1888), Find a Grave Memorial no. 99579697, citing Heidelberg Union Cemetery (Heidelberg), Slatington, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Rochelle Green (contributor 47664947).[43]
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 07 July 2020), memorial page for Joel Schnable (2 Jan 1815–26 Aug 1890), Find a Grave Memorial no. 99579747, citing Heidelberg Union Cemetery (Heidelberg), Slatington, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Rochelle Green (contributor 47664947).[44]
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 03 July 2020), memorial page for Anna Maria “Polly” Bittner Zimmerman (14 Jun 1819–27 Nov 1908), Find a Grave Memorial no. 75824624, citing Lowhill Church Cemetery, Lowhill Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Lois Revenaugh (contributor 46922006).[45]
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 03 July 2020), memorial page for Solomon Zimmerman (24 May 1811–19 Nov 1896), Find a Grave Memorial no. 75824456, citing Lowhill Church Cemetery, Lowhill Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Lois Revenaugh (contributor 46922006).[46]
  • Pennsylvania Marriages, 1709-1940, database, FamilySearch [47] : 6 February 2020, Christian Freby, 1848.
  • Reading Times. 1877. Man Thrown from a Load of Grain, July 18, 1877.[48]
  • Reading Times. 1899. Four Score and Eleven: Mrs. Barbara Lauer Dies at the Age of 91 and Leaves 5 Children, 32 Grand, 76 Great Grand and 3 Great Great Grand Children, March 11, 1899. [49]
  • United States Census, 1850, database with images, FamilySearch [50] : 9 April 2016, Pennsylvania > Carbon > Mauch Chunk borough > image 35 of 61; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • United States Census, 1860, database with images, FamilySearch [51] : 24 March 2017, Pennsylvania > Carbon > East Penn Township > image 1 of 22; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • United States Census, 1860, database with images, FamilySearch [52] : 24 March 2017, Pennsylvania > Lehigh > Heidelburg Township > image 9 of 37; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • United States Census, 1870, database with images, FamilySearch [53] : 15 June 2019, Pennsylvania > Carbon > East Penn > image 18 of 22; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • United States Census, 1880, database with images, FamilySearch [54] : 24 December 2015, Pennsylvania > Carbon > East Penn > ED 120 > image 2 of 21; citing NARA microfilm publication T9, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., n.d.)
  • United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865. Database. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. Citing multiple microfilm publications, Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.[55]
  • United States Records of Headstones of Deceased Union Veterans, 1879-1903, database with images, FamilySearch [56] : 1 May 2020, Christian Freeby.
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