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Friedrich 'Frederick' Gaumer |
Friedrich "Frederick" Gaumer was born on Feb. 1, 1778 in Macungie Township, Lehigh County, PA, the son of Johann "Friedrich" and Catharina Barbara (Eisenhardt) Gaumer. When he was five weeks old, he was baptized on March 8, 1778, with Jacob Gaumer and Barbara Heiling serving as his sponsors.
Friedrich was married twice. On Oct. 27, 1801, he was joined in wedlock with his first wife, Salome "Sallie" Däsch ( ? - ? ), also spelled "Desch," daughter of German immigrants Adam and Gertrude Däsch.
Salome's father had emigrated from Württemberg and obtained land two miles south of Macungie Township, which he patented on Sept. 23, 1788. Later, in 1793, the father acquired an adjoining 179 acres from Conrad and Hannah Haas. During the American Revolutionary War, Salome's brother Philip is said to have been captured by Tories and died as a prisoner in Norristown, Montgomery County, PA.
The Gaumers produced four children -- Charles B. "Carl" Gaumer, Hannah Gaumer, Susanna Gaumer and Samuel Gaumer Sadly, the youngest three died in infancy, all between the years 1804 and 1807.
Later, by 1810, he was united in holy matrimony with Hannah Bader (1790-1857). There was a 12-year difference in their ages.
Friedrich and Hannah bore one son of their own, Elias Gaumer, born in 1810.
Friedrich passed away in 1811, at the age of 33, leaving behind his wife and two young sons.
Hannah lived for another 46 years. She joined him in death on Feb. 3, 1857, in her 67th year. She is interred in Solomons United Church of Christ Cemetery in Macungie. [Find-a-Grave]
This family is spelled out in Myrtle Knepper Weniger's work, The Gaumer Family and Allied Lines.
~ Son Charles B. "Carl" Gaumer ~
Son Charles B. "Carl" Gaumer (1802-1871) was born on April 6, 1802 in Macungie Township, Lehigh County.
Circa 1826, he entered into marriage with Lucy Ann Snyder (1809-1846), reputedly a daughter of Peter and Sophia (Friend) Snyder.
Their six offspring were Edward Benjamin Gaumer, Sarah Gaumer, James Aaron Gaumer, Charles Madison Gaumer, Josephine Clarissa Gaumer and Sophia Lentz.
Charles made a living as a tailor, as shown in the 1850 federal census enumeration of Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County. Decades later, in 1932, the Allentown Morning Call said that he "probably had erected the stone graveled house on the north side of Main street, nearly opposite Grace Lutheran church, and which his son Edward B. Gaumer, a coachmaker, occupied for many years [before he] moved to Urbana, Ohio..."
Grief blanketed the family when Lucy Ann passed away in 1846 at the age of only 36 years, 6 months and 26 days. Interment was in Solomons United Church Cemetery in Macungie. The text on her stone was in German.
He succumbed to the Angel of Death on March 1, 1871 in Macungie. His marker at the Solomon's cemetery also was in German.
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Hannah and Edward B. Gaumer - courtesy "Oldergraver" |
Edward and his longtime business partner jointly owned the firm of Warren and Gaumer. Then in 1883, distant cousin Dr. Thomas Melancthon Gaumer, of the family of Jonathan and Mahala (Barrett) Gaumer, moved to Urbana and launched a newspaper publishing business in town, giving even more prominence to the family name. Shortly after Warren's death in 1890, Edward brought a lawsuit against his partner's heirs Ann Pearce of Oakfield, NY and James Warren to force a partition of many tracts of real estate in Urbana. He also began a new business, E.B. Gaumer and Sons, "and continued in the manufacture of buggies, carriages, sleighs, etc., until such time as the automobile became the common mode of transportation," said the Daily Citizen. The factory was located at 310-318 West Court Street. Sadly, Hannah passed away in Urbana on Aug. 17, 1896. An obituary in her old hometown newspaper, the Allentown Leader, said that "Her maiden name was Hamman and she was born in Lehigh County January 28, 1825. Her parents moved to Ohio in 1836." Edward died in Champaign at the age of 76 on Oct. 19, 1903. The Mansfield News Journal eulogized that he was "probably the oldest manufacturer of carriages in the state of Ohio." His remains sleep for the ages in Urbana's Oakdale Cemetery. In 1917, Hugh P. Creighton and Philip J. Schneider bought the factory property and "removed the two top floors and the back section of the large brick building," said the Urbana Daily Citizen, "and used the bricks to construct their factory at the rear of the lot." Some 58 years later, in June 1961, he was profiled in an Urbana newspaper column by Warren Everhart, saying "for a period of more than a hundred years the Gaumer family name has been identified with the industrial activity of the City of Urbana."
- Grandson Augustus Hamman Gaumer (1856-1936) was born on Dec. 18, 1856 in his parents' home on North Main Street in Urbana, Champaign County. His birthplace was across the street from the Masonic Temple in town. He graduated from the public school in Urbana in 1874 then was a teacher, including at Urbana High School. He then joined his father's Warren & Gaumer carriage manufacturing business in a career that spanned nearly 50 years. In 1884, at the age of about 28, he tied the marital cord with Cyrena "Rena" Johnson ( ? - ? ), daughter of Levi Johnson. The two offspring they produced together were Josephine A. Hutson and Keren J. Gaumer. Augustus became an owner of the family business in 1890 after the death of his father's partner. "The comany manufactured horse-drawn vehicles that were shipped all over the United States," reported the Urbana Daily Citizen.
Throughout his life he was a member of the Lutheran church of Urbana, for which he had served as teacher and for many years as superintendent of the church council. For a number of years he was a member of the board of directors of the Hamma Divinity School of Wittenberg College of Springfield... [He] was vice president of the Perpetual Savings Association of Urbana, having served in this position for the past 20 years.
At the age of 80, he died in his sleep on March 22, 1936. An obituary in the Daily Citizen called him a "pioneer Urbana resident who was widely known as a buggy manufacturer." Leading the funeral rites were Rev. Dr. Loyal Larimore of the Hamma School, assisted by Rev. F.R. White. Burial was in Oakdale Cemetery.
- Grandson George Edward Gaumer (1861-1931) was born on Jan. 25, 1861, a twin with his sister Mary Lucy. Sadly, the twin did not survive infancy. George was an 1879 graduate of Urbana High School. Along with his brother Augustus, he entered in the carriage manufacturing business with their father. When he was 36 years of age, in 1897, he was joined in wedlock with Martha Kunath ( ? - ? ), an immigrant from Neustadt, Germany. They exchanged their marital vows in the Church of the Atonement in New York City, by the hand of Rev. Dr. F.H. Knubel. Two children of this union were Edward K. Gaumer and Agnes H. Gaumer. They lived at 234 West Court Street. The Urbana Daily Citizen once said that George "was closely identified with the manufacturing interests of the city, having been a part of the carriage firm of Warren & Gaumer, and later a member of the firm of E.B. Gaumer and Sons. With the passing of the carriage business, Mr. Gaumer, associating with his brother A.H. Gaumer, entered the coal business, operating under the name of The Gaumer Coal Co... [He] was not only a practical artisan but also had a special training in the technique of drafting as applied to the vehicle trade." George was a lifelong member of the local lodge of the Masons and a longtime treasurer of the Sunday School of the Urbana Lutheran Church. After an illness of several months' duration, as he neared his 70th birthday, George passed away on Jan. 10, 1931. His pastor, Rev. K.R. Roberts, preached the funeral sermon. An obituary in the Daily Citizen said he "possessed a quiet undemonstrative nature and his sterling qualities were those of being industrious, honest in all transactions and careful in his daily life."
Great-grandson Edward K. Gaumer was married and the father of Alice Marie Gaumer.
Great-granddaughter Agnes H. Gaumer was single as of 1931.
- Granddaughter Alice Louise Gaumer (1863-1954) was born two days before Christmas 1863 in Champaign County. She does not appear to have married over her long life. Alice's address for decades was at 235 West Court Street, Urbana. She was regent of the Urbana chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also was active with the Sunday School and Missionary Society of the Messiah Lutheran Church and in 1944 was president of the Loyalty Club of Girl Reserves during World War II. As well, she gave of her time as secretary of the Urbana Public Library. At the age of 90, she passed away in the county of her birth on June 19, 1954. Interment was in Urbana's Oakdale Cemetery, with her pastor Rev. Edward H. Orinson leading the funeral. An obituary appeared in the Urbana Daily Citizen.
Great-granddaughter Keren Gaumer made a home in Urbana in 1936.
Great-granddaughter Josephine A. Gaumer wed C.W. Hutson. They relocated to Ypsilanti, MI. They were the parents of Eleanor Hutson.
- Granddaughter Crissie "Blanche" Gaumer (1868-1955) was born on May 30, 1868 in Urbana. She never married. For many years, she shared a residence with her sister Alice at 235 West Court Street in Urbana. The sisters were active with the Women's Missionary Society of the Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Urbana chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. At one event, held in their home in 1933, the Urbana Daily Citizen reported that "An 'In Memoriam' " membership for Edward Benjamin Gaumer was given by his children, to honor his coming to Urbana, and his many years of service in the local church." She passed away at home at the age of 87 on Feb. 7, 1956. An obituary was printed in the Daily Citizen. Rev. Edward H. Orinson of the family church presided over the funeral rites.
Daughter Sarah Ann Gaumer (1829-1891) was born on Nov. 25, 1829 in Macungie. She was 17 years of age when she was rendered motherless. She does not appear to have married. Circa 1871, at the death of their father, Sarah Ann moved to Philadelphia to join her sister Josephine who already had been living there for some time. Her address in 1891 was 1449 Fawn Street, Philadelphia. The angel of death cleaved her away at the age of 61 on Jan. 23, 1891. Funeral services were held in her residence, with the body then transported to Macungie. Her remains were lowered in the sacred soil of Solomons Church Cemetery, and a death notice published in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Her grave marker was etched in English.
Son James Aaron Gaumer (1840-1891) was born on Jan. 30, 1840 in Macungie. He is believed to have been confirmed in Solomon's Lutheran Church in Macungie in 1859, under the pastorate of Rev. Joshua Yeager. James served in the Union Army during the Civil War, as a member of the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company G. Some evidence hints that he was twice-wed. One of his wives was Susanna Charlotte Bair (1841-1880). They were the parents of two known children, Caleb Gaumer and Emma K. Gaumer. The Gaumers relocated to York County, PA where they remained for good. Sadly, at the age of 38 years, 6 months and 20 days, Susanna pased away in York County. An obituary in the Allentown Democrat said "She was a most estimable woman -- a loving wife, a pleasant and agreeable friend, a lady whom no one spoke of but in terms of praise. Sad, sad, indeed, are the hearts of those she left behind." James outlived her by 11 years and apparently married a second time to Catherine ( ? - ? ). He again was plunged into mourning at the death of daughter Emma at age 10 years and 2 months on Jan. 27, 1882. The girl's body was interred in Solomon's Church Cemetery. In May 1892, he appears to have filed an application to receive a soldier's pension, but it was not approved, and he may already have been deceased. [Invalid App. No.1.109.837] Death spirited him away at age 50, on Jan. 23, 1891 in Newberrytown, York County, PA. The body was transported back to Macungie for burial at Solomon's Church Cemetery. Catharine then applied for a widow's pension, and it was granted. [Widow App. No. 563.081 - Cert. No. 391.277]
- Grandson Caleb Gaumer (1875-1948) was born on May 12, 1875 in Macungie, Lehigh County. He was united in matrimony with Ella ( ? - ? ). Caleb was a longtime farmer. In about 1911, they settled on a farm in rural New Cumberland, York County, PA and stayed for the remaining 37 years of their lives together. Sadly, at the age of 72, he suffered a heart attack and died on March 28, 1948. Burial was in the Salem Evangelical United Brethren Church Cemetery in York County. Mrs. James Weigle of New Cumberland was the informant for the official Pennsylvania certificate of death.
Son Charles Madison Gaumer ( ? - ? ) was born on (?). Little of his life is known. He was named in a list of his siblings in a June 16, 1961 article in the Urbana (OH) Daily Citizen.
Daughter Josephine Clarissa Gaumer (1844-1920) was born on April 4, 1844 in Macungie. She was baptized as an infant and was "early taught the principles of faith, which faith she held throughout her life without wavering," said a newspaper. She was only two years of age when her mother died but remained in her widowed father's household in her girlhood. She is believed to have been confirmed in Solomon's Lutheran Church in Macungie in 1859, at age 15, under the pastorate of Rev. Joshua Yeager. Josephine never married. In her early years she migrated to Philadelphia, joined by her sister Sarah after the death of their father in 1871. Said a newspaper, "In this family circle was included their nephew, Caleb Gaumer, who tenderly cared for her all these years."
[She] was blessed with a cheerful, sunny disposition that supported her through many trying places in life and kept her strong and courageous. Wherever she lived she won many friends and none loved her more than the children in the families of her nieces and nephews. She loved God's mood and the beautiful hymns. The promises of God were her consolation throughout her life. In her years of strength and activity. She rendered a full measure of service with many quiet deeds of kindness in behalf of others, done without ostentation, but truly meriting the commendation that "she did what she could."
Josephine suffered from chronic heart valve disease. She died in a nephew's residence in York County near New Cumberland, PA on Oct. 15, 1920, at the age of 76 years, 6 months and 11 days. Her remains were transported to Macungie for funeral services held at the Grace Lutheran Church by the hand of Rev. George W. Fritch. He preached his sermon on 2 Timothy 4:7 -- "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
Daughter Sophia Gaumer (1847-1924) was born in 1847 in Macungie. She grew up in Macungie. Soophia is believed to have been confirmed in Solomon's Lutheran Church in Macungie in 1865, at the age of 18, under the pastorate of Rev. Joshua Yeager. Sophia later moved to Philadelphia, where her two elder sisters were already living. She tied the marital cord with William P. Lentz (1825-1897). Together they bore nine children -- Herbert Lentz, Mrs. S.H. Wilkins, Warren E. Lentz, Robert T. Lentz, Maude Burt, Elsie Boddy, Mrs. Frank Ford, Marion G. Lentz and Winfield S. Lentz. They eventually settled near Woodbury, NJ. The family was plunged into mourning at the deaths of children Marion and Winfield in 1875. Sophia passed into the arms of the heavenly host at National Park, NJ on Feb. 22, 1924. Burial was in Green Cemetery in Deptford, NJ. An obituary in the Allentown Morning Call said she had died "on Washington's birthday."
- Grandson Herbert Lentz ( ? - ? )
- Granddaughter (?) Lentz ( ? - ? ) married S.H. Wilkins ( ? - ? ).
- Grandson Warren E. Lentz ( ? - ? )
- Grandson Robert T. Lentz ( ? - ? )
- Granddaughter Maude Lentz ( ? - ? ) wed (?) Burt ( ? - ? ). She was deceased by 1924.
- Granddaughter Elsie Lentz ( ? - ? ) tied the knot with (?) Boddy ( ? - ? ).
- Granddaughter (?) Lentz was joined in wedlock with Frank Ford ( ? - ? ).
~ Son Elias Gaumer ~
Son Elias Gaumer (1810-1842) was born on Oct. 2, 1810 in Macungie Township, Lehigh County.
Elias wedded Sophia Christman (Sept. 23, 1814-1908), daughter of Macungie hotel keepers George and Sarah (Fegely) Christman.
They produced two children, Ann "Caroline" Wentzel and Maria Desch.
Sadness cascaded over the family when Elias died at the age of 32 on July 15, 1842 in Macungie. The cause of his passing is not yet known. His remains were placed into repose in the Solomons United Church of Christ Cemetery in Macungie. [Find-a-Grave]
The widowed Sophia, age 28, went on in 1848 to marry a second time to Henry Gabriel (1812-1887), an immigrant who arrived in 1839 from Herborn, Germany. He had been married before, to Cornelia Eggert/Eckert ( ? - ? ), and Sophia became stepmother to his two children, William H. Gabriel and Ellen T. "Ella" Gabriel.
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In 1848, Elias Gaumer's widow Sophia married Henry Gabriel, founder of this mill, along the Little Lehigh River. |
They also bore eight children of their own, among them George Gabriel, Sarah "Sadie" Lodge, Anna Helwig, Milton Gabriel, Mary Alice Deeths, Henrietta Gabriel, Emma Wilhelmina Gabriel and John Oscar Gabriel.
The mixture of the combined families totaled at least a dozen offspring.
The Gabriels relocated into the city of Allentown in 1850, and became occupants of a home at 704 Lawrence Street. There, Henry founded the Allentown Mills, also known as Henry Gabriel's Sons, "which he operated very successfully for many years," said the Allentown Leader. It was located "along the Little Lehigh at the foot of Water Street," said the Allentown Morning Call. Initially, the plant produced bedspreads, blankets, flannels and yarns. But it was destroyed by fire in August 1873.
When reconstructed, the mill "was a custom mill, and the farmers and country folk brought their wool to the mill to have it either carded, spun or woven into cloth, or simpoly corded and made into rolls, which were afterwards spun into yarns, by the women folks, and the yarn generally brought back so that coverlets might be made out of their own productions," said the 1905 book Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, volume 2, co-authored by John Woolf Jordan, Edgar Moore Green and George Taylor Ettinger.
Henry is said to have captured first prize for his products at the Centennial exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876.
The family belonged to the Zion Reformed Church.
At the age of 75, Henry died on Oct. 16, 1887.
Sophia outlived her second husband by more than two decades, remaining in her home with her unmarried daughter Emma at 704 Lawrence Street. At her 91st birthday, in 1905, the Allentown Morning Call reported that she "is still hale and hearty." Then at her 93rd birthday, the Morning Call said she was "in the best of health outside of a weakness of the limbs due to her advanced years [and] is unable to leave her room and occupies a large rocking chair. Her hearing is acute, her eyesight is good and her appetite is of the best."
Suffering from pneumonia, she passed into eternity on St. Patrick's Day 1908, at the age of 93. Rev. H.M. Klein and Rev. F.C. Seitz jointly led the funeral service. She sleeps for all time in Fairview Cemetery in Allentown.
Daughter Maria Gaumer (1836-1909) was born on Feb. 3, 1836. She married Rev. Henry Desch ( ? - ? ). The couple dwelled in Allentown. After Henry's death, Maria dwelled at 831 Jackson Street. Having contracted pneumonia, Maria passed away at the age of 72 on Jan. 25, 1909. Burial was in Macungie, and F.A. Fetherold signed the death certificate.
Daughter Ann "Caroline" Gaumer ( ? -1901) was born in (?). She married German immigrant, Charles G. Wentzel ( ? -1907), who had originated in Groesschonenau, Saxony and arrived in America in 1853. The Wentzels lived in the Eighth Ward. Their brood of offspring included William Wentzel, Christine Wentzel, Mrs. George Reinhard, Henry Wentzel, Frank Wentzel, Carrie Wentzel, George Wentzel and Mrs. John Schlegel. Charles earned a living as a carpet weaver. He was active in local politics, as a school board director and on the Select Council of the ward. They were members of Zion Reformed Church, and at one time taught in the infant department of the Sunday School. He also belonged to the Lecha Castle of the Knights of the Golden Eagle. Their address was 440 North Seventh Street. Charles became seriously ill in mid-1899 and was off work for 20 weeks. Sadly, at the age of 64 years, five months and eight days, Caroline passed into eternity on Sept. 28, 1901. Funeral services were held in the family home. An obituary in the Allentown Morning Call invited "relatives, friends and the Beneficial Society of Zion's Reformed Church" to attend the funeral. Burial was in Allentown Cemetery. Charles outlived his wife by six years. For the last five years of his life, Charles shared a home with his married daughter Mrs. George Reinhard. He suffered a stroke and died several days later at the age of 83 on Sept. 24, 1907. Co-officiating at his funeral service were Rev. H.M.J. Klein and Rev. I.F. Bergstresser. An obituary in the Allentown Leader said he "was the last of his family."
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Grandson William Wentzel
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Granddaughter Christine Wentzel
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Granddaughter (?) Wentzel married George Reinhard.
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Grandson Henry Wentzel
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Grandson Frank Wentzel
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Granddaughter Carrie Wentzel
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Grandson George Wentzel
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Granddaughter (?) Wentzel wedded John Schlegel
Sophia's stepson William H. Gabriel (1844- ? ) was born in about 1844. At the age of 16, in 1860, he was an apprentice machinist working in his father's wool mills. He did not marry.
Sophia's stepdaughter Ellen T. Gabriel (1847- ? ) was born in about 1847. She was a teacher in Allentown from 1867 to 1919 and was pictured and featured in the Aug. 11, 1936 edition of the Morning Call.
Sophia's son George Gabriel (1850- ? )
Sophia's daughter Sarah "Sadie" Gabriel (1851- ? ) was born in 1851. She was united in the bonds of matrimony with Charles V. Lodge. Their children were Henry Lodge, Mary Lodge, John Lodge, George Lodge and Harold Helwig "Harry" Lodge and perhaps also Benjamin Lodge.
Sophia's daughter Anna M. Gabriel (1852-1934) was born on May 27, 1852. She was joined in wedlock with Elias O. Helwig ( ? - ? ). In her widowed years she made a home with her presumed son John R. Helwig at 102 South Madison Street. At the age of 82, she died of a stroke on June 29, 1934. Interment of the remains was in Fairview Cemetery, and John R. Helwig signed the death certificate.
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| Milton's bio, Historic Homes and Institutions Courtesy Google Books |
Sophia's son Milton Stephen Gabriel (1853- ? ) was born in 1853. He is profiled a length in the 1905 book Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, volume 2, co-authored by John Woolf Jordan, Edgar Moore Green and George Taylor Ettinger.
Sophia's daughter Mary "Alice" Gabriel (1855-1882) was born in about 1855. She married George W. Deeths ( ? - ? ). The couple did not reproduce. Grief overcame the family when Alice contracted tubercular spinal meningitis and died on March 31, 1882, at the age of 27 years, two months and 10 days. A death notice appeared in the Allentown Democrat.
Sophia's daughter Henrietta Gabriel (1856- ? ) was born in 1856. She did not marry.
Sophia's daughter Emma Wilhelmina Gabriel (1858-1912) was born on June 4, 1858. She never married. For many years, she dwelled with her widowed mother at 704 Lawrence Street in Allentown. At the age of 54, suffering from tuberculosis and having lapsed into a uremic coma, she died in Allentown on Nov. 3, 1912.
Sophia's son John Oscar Gabriel (1859- ? ) was born in late 1859 or early 1860. He was joined in holy wedlock with Kathryn Guiley ( ? - ? ). The couple did not reproduce.
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Copyright © 2000, 2015, 2016, 2018-2020 Mark A. Miner |
| Myrtle (Knepper) Weniger's work, The Gaumer Family and Allied Lines, has contributed to this biography. |