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JAMES C. BEITEL.
There is no man living to-day who has conducted a profitable
business for so many years as James C. Beitel, who on
Dec. 8, 1913, celebrated the Golden Anniversary of the opening
of his jewelry store at 215 Front Street. Mr. Beitel
descends from an illustrious family. The Rev. Heinrich
Beutel was a native of Adamsthal, formerly called Mundorf,
Austrian Silesia, being born Jan. 18, 1711. He served as
missionary in Berbice, Guiana, S. A., from 1740 to 1748 and 1751
to 1763. He married Miss Elizabeth Paschke, Oct. 8,
1739. Mr. Beutel died at Hernhut, Saxony, Dec. 4,
1763. His wife was born Jan. 23, 1714, and died at Hernhut
Aug. 10, 1783.
His son Johann Benatus Beutel was born at
Pilgerhut, Berbice, Guiana, S. A., Dec. 21, 1740. He
married Juliana Schmidt, a daughter of the pioneer
settler of Nazareth, and died at Nazareth, Sept. 27, 1840.
His wife was born Jan. 3, 1751, and died Feb. 15, 1824.
The next in the line of this family tree was John
Beitel the son of Johann born at Nazareth July 18,
1782. He married Miss Anna Magdalena Romig and died
at Nazareth Aug. 15, 1870. His wife was born at Emaus,
Pa., Feb. 22, 1792 and died Aug. 7, 1849. John's
son, Josiah Oliver Beitel, was born at Nazareth in 1811
and died in 1898. His wife was a Miss Maria Sophia Kern,
born at Bethlehem in 1814 and died in 1895.
From this union proceeded our townsman, James C.
Beitel, who was born at Nazareth, June 15, 1842. His
wife is Emma C., a daughter of Solomon Koehler and
his wife Mary Ann nee Ehret, and was born Aug. 16,
1845. Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Beitel were married Dec.
29, 1863.
Mr. Beitel was educated in the Moravian school
at Nazareth, and at the same time learnt the clock-making
business with his father. When President Lincoln issued
his third call for volunteers, Mr. Beitel came forward,
Oct. 7, 1862, and was mustered in as a private in Captain
Owen Rice's Company A, 153rd Regiment Pennsylvania
Volunteers. He was detailed as a member of the regimental
band. He aw services at Chancellrsville and Gettysburg and
was honestly discharged July 23, 1863.
He now found employment at his trade in Doylestown.
On Dec. 8, 1863, he opened his store at 215 Front Street, where
he continued for over forty-five years. After Robert J.
Beitel, his son, graduated from High School, Mr. Beitel
admitted him in 1900 into the business, and the firm title
became J. C. Beitel and Son. New lines were
constantly added to the stock so that for larger and more
commodious quarters the firm moved into their beautiful store at
the National Bank Building during 1909.
The public estimate of Mr. Beitel has been
attested repeatedly. He held public office in town at
various times. His record as Burgess and school director
do him credit. He was a director of the National Bank of
Catasauqua for years; and a charter member of the Lehigh
National Bank, whose honored president he has been since its
beginning. He is also president of the Electric Laundry
Company, At Fountain Hill, Pa. He is a veteran member of
Porter Lodge, 284, F. and A. M., since 1874, and a comrade of
Lieut. George W. Fuller Post, 378, G. A. R. His name
is enrolled among those who held office in St. Paul's Ev.
Lutheran Church to which the family belong and which they
liberally support. Their children are: Mrs. Mary
Louise Bender; Laura E., a trained nurse in Philadelphia;
Gwennie, deceased, former wife of Rev. J. W. Lazarus;
Annie K., wife of Dr. J. C. Lonacre; Robert J. Otilla G.;
and Mabel O., wife of Charles Edwards.
Source: History of Catasauqua in LeHigh County,
Pennsylvania, Publ. 1914 - Page 308 |
