(Photo by Richard F. Hope)

Simon Mansion and Ward House (41 North 3rd Street, now Third Street Alliance).

This ornate, “High Renaissance Chateau” style mansion was designed by William Marsh Michler and built in 1902.1 Owner Herman Simon’s instructions to Michler were to “build the handsomest house in the Lehigh Valley for the ladies of the Simon family.”2

The mansion was constructed of Indiana limestone on a granite base, roofed in Vermont red slate with copper ornamentation. The interior includes “Spanish leather, Italian marble, ‘Delft’ (Amsterdam), Bavarian and Mercer tiles, South American mahogany and Caen stone”, with stained glass by Nicola D’Ascenzo, parquet floor and frescoed ceilings.3 The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on 27 June 1980).4 A free brochure has (at times) been available inside from the Third Street Alliance,5 and a definitive book on Herman Simon and his mansions was published in 2013, written by Easton historian Kenneth L. Klabunde after many years of research.6

This mansion was built for silk manufacturer Herman Simon, as his second mansion in Easton. The Simon silk mill complex is located on the East side of 13th Street, above Bushkill Creek. After coming to America in 1868, and initially building extensive silk mills in Patterson (N.J.), Herman Simon’s firm (with his brother) “built the largest individual silk, ribbon and velvet manufacturing business in the world.”7 The first Simon Mansion in Easton was built (and still stands) on the hill at the SW corner of Bushkill and 13th Streets,8 overlooking the factory complex.9 However, Mr. Simon’s wife (Elizabeth Dawson Coe, married in 188710) had large social ambitions, despite her husband’s immigrant background and thick German accent. Accordingly, in 1902 Mr.

Simon built the most opulent mansion on Easton’s “Millionaire’s Row” for the ladies of his family.11 The mansion took over a year and half to complete, including some 15,000 square feet of space, with 43 rooms, 80 exterior windows, and originally a formal gardens on the South side with an Italian pergola.12 The garden was later largely replaced with an adjoining brick residence for Mrs. Simon’s daughter, then married to William Opp Bixler (a photographer), but today known as “Ward House” after her second husband.13 Mrs. Herman Simon and her daughter Mrs. Grace Ward offered the two homes to the Easton Y.W.C.A. in 1929, which purchased them for $110,000 in November 1930.14 In 1994, the Easton Y.W.C.A. ended its affiliation with the national Y.W.C.A. organization and became the Third Street Alliance for Women & Children.15

The Simon Mansion property of today occupies original town Lot Nos. 66 and 68, as surveyed in preparation for Easton’s founding by William Parsons in 1752. Each of those Lots were subdivided as time progressed. The Simon Mansion itself appears to have replaced three predecessor grand houses, located on the southern half of Lot No.66 and all of Lot No. 68 (next to the church). The modern property has now incorporated as well the Michler Mansion that occupied the northern half of Lot No.66. The details appear below.

Before Simon:

No. Michler Mansion (Lot No.

3rd Hess Mansion (replaced Michler frame office bldg.) 66)

St. Lachenour Mansion (Michler brick office bldg.) (Lot No.Siegert Mansion 68)

German Reformed (now U.C.C.) Church (Lot No. 70)

Original Town Lot No. 66

As detailed below, the southern part of this Lot (formerly the Hess Mansion) served as the basic property for the actual Simon Mansion house, while the northern part contains the Michler Mansion was has now been connected to (and incorporated with) the Simon Mansion property.

Original Town Lot No.66 (as surveyed by William Parsons when Easton was established in 1752)16 was formally sold in 1789 by the Penn Family for £ 25 “in Specie” to Daniel Herster,17 a “Victualler” (butcher).18 Daniel Herster had occupied the Lot before his formal purchase, in a pre-existing house built there before 1779.19 In 1794, Herster sold this house to the German Reformed Congregation as a parsonage for £ 190 “in Specie”.20 However, the parsonage was not to be. The Congregation resold it a year later (in 1795) for £ 194, showing a modest profit, which money was to be put to use to purchase a parsonage at another location. The deed reflects that the Lot No.66 property specifically included rights to a “well of water erected in Pomfret Street . . . nearly opposite to the said Premises”.21

John Craig was the apparently “canny Scot” who purchased Lot No.66 from the Church in 1795. Only a year later (in 1796), Craig was able to resell the property for a

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profitable £ 225 to Michael Gress.22 Gress held it until 1803, at which time he obtained £280 for it from William Moritz.23 Moritz’s resale only three years later (in 1806) was computed in dollars (rather than pounds): $1,066, paid for the property by Jacob Arndt [Jr.].24

Jacob Arndt [Jr.] was the second son (and 4th child) of French and Indian War Major Jacob Arndt, Sr. The Major owned a mill in Forks Township at the dam on Bushkill Creek where Bushkill Park is now located. The Major also owned other properties, and was a principal landowner in Forks Township.25

The Major was also an enthusiastic supporter of the “patriot” cause during the Revolution. His oldest son (Jacob Arndt Jr.’s brother), John Arndt, was a Captain in

23 Deed, Michael Gress to William (Catharine) Moritz, B3 240 (9 Apr. 1803). 24 Deed, William (Catharine) Moritz to Jacob Arndt, B3 241 (21 July 1806). 25 John Stover Arndt, The Story of the Arndts 120, 167 (Christopher Sower Company

1922). His father had only acquired the tract in 1779, presumably for Jacob, since it was separate from the extensive family homestead and mill property. Id. See generally separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 316 Northampton Street, for a history of Jacob Arndt, Sr.

1 Third Street Alliance for Women & Children, The Herman Simon Mansion (free pamphlet); see Kenneth L. Klabunde, This House Is For The Ladies 79-125 (Stewartsville (NJ): PrintPlus 2013); A Brief History & Architectural Tour of EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, “Herman Simon Mansion”, www.easton-pa.com/History/HistoricEaston.htm (accessed 2 Jan. 2005), subsequently moved to www.easton-pa.gov/history2.html; accord, City of Easton, Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey Form, Attachment: Building Description Survey Area 1 Zone E (City Council Resolution approved 12 May 1982)(built c.1902 in “French Chateau” style).

2 Kenneth L. Klabunde, This House Is For The Ladies 79 (Stewartsville (NJ): PrintPlus 2013); accord, Article, “Old Adage Symbolizes YW: Beauty in Life Eases Thorns”, EASTON EXPRESS, Tues., 13 Jan. 1970, p.14; Ken Klabunde, “Post Kard Korner: ‘This house is for the ladies . . .’ – Herman Simon, 1900”, EASTON IRREGULAR 2 (Feb. 2004).

3 Historic Easton, Inc., Holiday Preservation Tour of Historic Easton unnumbered p.6 (9 Dec. 1978).

Artistic renditions of parts of the roofline is apparently the subject of Timothy George Hare, Easton Inkscapes Nos.10, 92 (Easton: Inkwell Publications 1989).

4 National Register of Historic Places, NRIS Item No. 80003586 (27 June 1980). 5 Third Street Alliance for Women & Children, The Herman Simon Mansion (free

pamphlet).

See also Map Guide to Historic Downtown Easton; Scott Hill, A Self Guided Tour . . . Historic Forks of the Delaware 6 (Eagle Scout Project, 29 Apr. 1992)(copies sold by NCH&GS).

6 Kenneth L. Klabunde, This House Is For The Ladies 79 (Stewartsville (NJ): PrintPlus 2013).

Mr. Klabunde had previously provided the EASTON IRREGULAR with several articles on the mansion, and before his contributions, even earlier articles had been printed dating back to 1997. Article, “The Simon Mansion”, EASTON IRREGULAR 11A (July-Aug. 1997); Article, “Simon Mansion”, EASTON IRREGULAR HERITAGE EDITION 2001 44; Kenneth L. Klabunde, “Christmas In The Mansion”, EASTON IRREGULAR CHRISTMAS BOOK 2003 34; Ken Klabunde, “Post Kard Korner: ‘This house is for the ladies . . .’ – Herman Simon, 1900”, EASTON IRREGULAR 2 (Feb. 2004); Kenneth L. Klabunde, “The First 36,500 Days of History, And That’s Only the Beginning!”, EASTON IRREGULAR 3 (Oct. 2008).

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Washington’s Army in the Revolutionary War, and was wounded at the Battle of Long Island.26 Jacob Jr. was himself commissioned a Lieutenant in 1780. As a result of their wartime service and their father’s prominent position in Northampton County, after the War both of the Arndt boys obtained offices from the new government. From 1783 until 1790, Jacob Arndt was the Treasurer of Northampton County.27 However, he apparently lost this office when all the Federalist Party officials were swept from office, after Republican Party candidate Thomas McKean was elected Governor of the state.28

In the meantime, Jacob Arndt, Jr. acquired numerous properties in and around Easton, including (at one time) the entire town of Phillipsburg (some 91-3/4 acres).29 In 1809, Arndt sold two North 3rd Street properties – Lot No.66 for $1,200,30 as well as another duplex residence that he owned on the West side of the street31 – apparently in

7 Ken Klabunde, “Post Kard Korner: ‘This house is for the ladies . . .’ – Herman Simon, 1900”, EASTON IRREGULAR 2 (Feb. 2004).

8 A picture of the house was printed in 1900 in Ethan Allen Weaver, “The Forks of the Delaware” Illustrated 291 (Easton (PA): Eschenbach Press 1900). A more recent photograph by Virginia Lawrence-Hope was published in Richard F. Hope, Easton PA: A History 107 (AuthorHouse 2006). A notable feature of that house is the charming silkworm weathervane on the spire of the turret roof. Id. at 105-06.

9 Today (2012) it has the address of 671 North 13th Street. Compare Northampton County Tax Records map, www.ncpub.org (671 North 13th Street) with Deed, R. & H. Simon Company Inc. to The Onondaga Silk Company, C65 244 (14 June 1933)(“being the land and buildings occupied by the silk mills and the tracts of land adjoining and contiguous thereto”); Deed, Onondaga Silk Company, Inc. to Easton Industrial Corporation, C72 225 (28 July 1941)(sale price $119,000, including other properties); Deed, Easton Industrial Corporation to Pfizer Pigments, Inc., 677 317 (14 Feb. 1985)(Tract No.1); Deed, Pfizer Pigments, Inc. to James S. (Helen J.) Garofalo and Helen Beth Garofalo Vilcek, 825 336 (12 Mar. 1991)(sale price $75,000 for 2 properties); Notice of Condemnation (Eminent Domain), to James S. (Helen J.) Garofalo and Helen Beth Garofalo Vilcek by Redevelopment Authority of Easton, 2005-1-490176 (filed 5 Nov. 2005).

Herman Simon (and, nominally, his brother Robert) had obtained the original land for the silk mill in 1882, for $45,000. Deed, John S. Nobel to Herman Simon, G24 451 (1 Aug. 1882)(sale price $45,000). See generally Easton Daily Express, Illustrated Industrial Edition 21 (Jan. 1893, reprint sold by Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society).

Three additional properties were later added at the 13th Street location. Deed, Ruth Hulick and Mary F. Titus to Herman Simon, C22 529 (13 June 1981)(sale price $10,000); Deed, George (Mary R.) Seibert to Herman Simon, B29 165 (16 June 1899)(sale price $33,000); Deed, Joseph S. Rodenbough and Andrew D. Chidsey to Robert Simon and Herman Simon d/b/a R. & H. Simon, D29 610 (22 Jan 1900).

Upon Herman Simon’s death, his estate transferred the properties to his firm. Deed, Charles Wl Muller, Executor of the Will of Herman Simon, to R. & H. Simon Company, G41 625 (30 Apr. 1914); see Deed, R. & H. Simon Company to R. & H. Simon Company, H64 229 (1 Jul 1931)(transfer to incorporated company; Tract No.3).

10 Ken Klabunde, “Post Kard Korner: ‘This house is for the ladies . . .’ – Herman Simon, 1900”, EASTON IRREGULAR 2 (Feb. 2004).

11 See Third Street Alliance, The Herman Simon Mansion; Historic Easton, Inc., Holiday Preservation Tour of Historic Easton unnumbered p.6 (9 Dec. 1978).

12 Ken Klabunde, “Post Kard Korner: ‘This house is for the ladies . . .’ – Herman Simon, 1900”, EASTON IRREGULAR 2 (Feb. 2004).

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order to finance his purchase and construction of a fine brick residence at the corner of Pomfret (North 3rd) Street and Centre Square.32 Arndt lived in this brick house on Centre Square until his death in 1812;33 it was ultimately incorporated into the Matthew Hale Jones Mansion, which became the basis for the Hotel Huntington standing on that corner today.34

Arndt’s purchaser of Lot No.66 in 1809 was Easton lawyer, banker, businessman and town father Samuel Sitgreaves.35 Sitgreaves had his own mansion farther up the street,36 and apparently rented out Lot No.66 as an investment. In 1816, it was occupied by one Ludwig Shaub.37 Shortly after Samuel Sitgreaves’s death in 1827,38 his estate sold Lot No.66 for $1,200 to Henry Hill.39 [This was the same price as Sitgreaves’s purchase two decades earlier.] Hill held the property for almost two decades, but finally sold the

13 See Third Street Alliance, The Herman Simon Mansion; Historic Easton, Inc., Holiday Preservation Tour of Historic Easton unnumbered p.6 (9 Dec. 1978).

This house is evidently the subject of the artistic rendition in Timothy George Hare, Easton Inkscapes No.56 (Easton: Inkwell Publications 1989).

14 Kenneth L. Klabunde, “The First 36,500 Days of History, And That’s Only the Beginning!”, THE IRREGULAR, Oct. 2008, p.3, col.1.

15 Klabunde, “The First 36,500 Days of History”, supra at 3, cols. 2-3. 16 Compare Northampton County Tax Records map, www.ncpub.org (Simon property with

110’ frontage on 3rd Street plus Church with 109.75’ frontage totals very nearly 220’ to Church Alley) with A.D. Chidsey, Jr., The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Plan of Easton, Map 2 (Vol. II of Publications of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1937)(Original Town Lot Nos.66, 68, 70 and 72 – from North to South – each had 55’ of frontage for a total of 220’ frontage to Church Street).

17 Deed, John Penn (the Younger) and John Penn (the Elder) to Daniel Herster, A2 564 (4 Dec. 1789)(Original Town Lot No.66, sold for £ 25 “in Specie”). Chidsey’s citation to page 584 is erroneous. See A.D. Chidsey, Jr., The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Plan of Easton, Map 2 (Vol. II of Publications of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1937)(Original Town Lot No.66).

18 See Deed, John (Mary) Ross to Daniel Herster, G2 254 (17 Mar. 1802)(regarding property next to Lot No.56, along the “Road leading to Arndts Mill”; identifies Herster as a “Victualler”).

19 Charles de Krafft, Map of Easton Original Town Lots (from the collection of Luigi “Lou” Ferone (“Mr. Easton”) auctioned 27 Feb. 2010, said to have been used by the Penn clerks for notations to keep track of the town lots c.1779-1801); see Richard F. Hope, Easton PA: Concordance of Original Town Lot Owners Sources 24 (rev. ed. 2014).

20 Deed, Daniel (Catharine) Herster to Philip Odenwelder Jr, et al., in Trust for German Evangelic Reformed Society and Congregation of Easton [Etc.], A2 566 (4 Apr. 1794)(sale price £190 “in Specie” for “Messuage Tenement” on original town Lot No.66, measuring 55’ (on Pomfret St.) X 240’ deep).

21 Deed, Philip Odenwelder Jr, et al., in Trust for German Evangelic Reformed Society and Congregation of Easton [Etc.] to John Craig, B3 266 (14 Apr. 1795).

Concerning the well: see also Mortgage, John Spering to Peter Ealer, B1 360 (20 Nov. 1771)(mortgage concerned the house at the NW corner of Centre Square and Pomfret (now North 3rd) Street, included rights to use a “Water Well” opposite Bittebender’s property (i.e. Lot No.64)).

22 Deed, John (Elizabeth) Craig to Michael Gress, B3 239 (9 Apr. 1796).

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Lot with three houses on it in 1846 to Peter S. Michler at the much appreciated price of $5,000.40 This much higher sale price may indicate that Hill had constructed the additional buildings.

Hill’s purchaser in 1846 was the Hon. Peter S. Michler, the son of a family long established in Easton and the Forks Township area.41 Michler’s father, Nathaniel Michler, was an important mill owner along the Bushkill, as well as a public official.42 Peter Michler was involved with his father’s mill and distilling interests, as well as being an Easton merchant in his own right, and President of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank (which later became the First National Bank of Easton).43

The deed by which Michael Gress subsequently sold the property in 1803 (see below) recites that he had purchased it from John and Elizabeth “Gray” – apparently an error for “Craig”, perhaps as a result of improperly hearing the name.

26 See James Wright, History of Forks Township Northampton County, Pennsylvania 24 (1991). For additional history of John Arndt, see separate entry for Easton National Bank Building at 316 Northampton Street.

27 John Stover Arndt, The Story of the Arndts 167 (Christopher Sower Company 1922). 28 See Narrative of John Arndt in Arndt Family Bible, transcribed in John Stover Arndt, The

Story of the Arndts 20 (Philadelphia, Christopher Sower Company 1922), and id. at 137; see also Myers, Northampton County in the American Revolution, supra at 59; John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, II Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 48-50 (The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.).

29 Anon, Phillipsburg, N.J. Centennial 1961: A Souvenir Booklet, Commemorating 100 Years of Corporate Life 9 (Phillipsburg 1961); John Penn (the Elder) and John Penn (the Younger) to Jacob Arndt, A2 162 (20 Oct. 1789)(Log Cabin Lot on Northampton Street); Deed, Jacob (Elizabeth) Arndt to John Turnblaser, H1 354 (23 Aug. 1793)(same); Deed, Abraham (Susannah) Horn to Jacob Arndt, C3 357 (1 Dec. 1807)(Davis Duplex on Pomfret/North 3rd Street). See separate entries for the Log Cabin Lot at 213 Northampton Street, and the Davis Duplex at 26-28 North 3rd Street.

30 Deed, Jacob (Elizabeth) Arndt to Samuel Sitgreaves, D3 358 (10 Apr. 1809). 31 Deed, Jacob (Elizabeth) Arndt to Christian Endress, E3 61 (15 May 1809).32 William J. Heller, Historic Easton from the Window of a Trolley-Car 143 (Express

Printing Co. and Harmony Press, 1911, reprinted 1984); Deed, John (Margaret) Herster and Peter Miller to Jacob Arndt, D3 232 (7 Nov. 1808).

33 John Stover Arndt, The Story of the Arndts 167 (Christopher Sower Company 1922). 34 See www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Hotel Huntington at 5 North 3rd Street. 40 Deed, Henry Hill to Peter S. Michler, D7 476 (1 Jan. 1846)(sale price $5,000 for “Three

certain Messuages or Tenements” on land measuring 55’ on Pomfret (now North 3rd) St. X 240’ deep, comprising original town Lot No.66. The deed recites that the property to the North was occupied by James M. Porter, and to the South by James Lauchenauer.

41 The progenitor of the Michler Family in this area was Moravian Bishop John Wolfgang Michler, who had come to America in 1743 on the same ship that also brought John Wesley (the Methodist Church founder). John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, I Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 219-20, 228 (New York and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.); see Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon

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Peter Michler’s position as an important distiller probably led to his involvement with the bank. The bank was formed in part in reaction against Col. Thomas McKeen, President of the previously-existing Easton Bank, who was an elder of Easton’s First Presbyterian Church and hated distilleries. McKeen used his position at the Easton Bank to make it difficult for distillers to borrow money. Easton’s distillers, who thrived due to the borough’s position as a regional grain market and transportation center, banded together and financed their own new bank – which was then commonly called the “Whiskey Bank”.44 Michler resigned as Bank President as of 1 July 1861;45 three of Peter Michler’s sons fought in the Civil War (which had begun at that time), including Nathaniel Michler, who was a Civil War general.46 The local

Counties, Pennsylvania 923 (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co. 1894, reprint by Higginson Book Co. 1970).

42 Nathaniel Michler was Bishop Michler’s son. As a young man, Nathaniel had taught Latin in the Moravian academy at Nazareth Hall. He became an important mill owner along the Bushkill, having purchased Michael Messinger’s Mill located near the site of the present Penn Pump Park. He also became a county official for 20 years, holding various offices in the Northampton County court system including register of wills, recorder of deeds, and clerk of Orphan’s Court. He invested in the community at Jacobsburg (on the Bushkill above Stockertown), eventually splitting (“partitioning”) the property with William Henry (who established his famous Henry rifle manufacturing operation there). Michler’s portion of Jacobsburg included the Jacobsburg Inn, which Michler operated for a time and then leased out. Michler also became the Justice of the Peace at Jacobsburg. Richard F. Hope and Virginia Lawrence-Hope, Easton PA: The Lower Bushkill Mills 266 (Lulu Press 2012); Charles M. Sandwick, Sr., Jacobsburg A Pennsylvania Community and Its People 32-33, 35 (Nazareth (PA): Jacobsburg Historical Society 1985).

43 M.S. Henry, History of the Lehigh Valley 125 (Bixler & Corwin 1860); Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 378 (George W. West 1885 / 1889)(P.S. Michler, President, McEvers Forman, Cashier).

35 Deed, Jacob (Elizabeth) Arndt to Samuel Sitgreaves, D3 358 (10 Apr. 1809). 36 See www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 109 North 3rd Street. 37 See Deed, Conrad Bittenbender, Executor of the Estate of Christopher Bittenbender, to

John Horn, B4 330 (6 Feb. 1816)(sale of Lot No.64 next door, reciting that the “late Ludwig Shaub” had occupied the property to the South).

38 For a more complete biography of Samuel Sitgreaves, see, e.g., www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Y.M.C.A. Headquarters Building at 109 North 3rd Street.

39 Deed, Samuel Sitgreaves and James Linton, Executors of the Estate of Samuel Sitgreaves, to Henry Hill, E5 158 (14 Jan. 1829)(sale price $1200 for “Lot of Piece of Ground” measuring 55’ on Pomfred (now North 3rd) Street X 240’ deep, comprising original town Lot No.66. This deed confirms that the property to the South had (at one time) been occupied by Jacob Grotz Jr.

44 Joan Steiner, The Bushkill Creek 14 (Bushkill Stream Conservancy typewritten MS 1996); S.M. Parkhill, “Easton Overcomes Growing Pains Caused by a Generation Gap”, MORNING CALL, Thurs., 19 Nov. 1998, p.B-4 (based upon a paper given in 1937 at the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society by Henry F. Marx, former Easton Public Library librarian; erroneously identifies its location as being “where the Easton Parking Garage stands today”).

45 Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 378 (George W. West 1885 / 1889).

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distillery business was basically destroyed during the Civil War by federal taxes, which rose from 20 cents a gallon to $2.00 a gallon in 1865.47 Nevertheless, at the end of the War Easton’s “Whiskey Bank” benefitted by joining the national banking system adopted to issue federal government paper money. The Bank was renamed The First National Bank of Easton in 1865.48 It was the first “Chase Act” national bank in Pennsylvania East of the Susquehanna River (aside from Philadelphia).49

Peter Michler was also a state senator, the long-time Treasurer of the General Synod of the Lutheran Church,50 and ultimately the first President of the Thomas Iron Company. That business was organized by David Thomas, who was “largely instrumental in developing the coal industry of the Upper Lehigh Valley”.51 Thomas had been brought to America in 1839, but he organized his own iron works in 1854.52 The resulting Tomas Iron Company was regarded as an exemplar in the iron industry during the American Industrial Revolution.53

47 Joan Steiner, The Bushkill Creek 14-15 (Bushkill Stream Conservancy typewritten MS 1996). See Untitled item, ARGUS, Thurs., 29 Aug. 1867, p.2, col.6 (noting that prominent Republican Party supporter Col. Samuel Yohe’s distillery on the Bushkill was for sale because the “heavy tax on whisky . . . has used them up.”), quoted in Steiner, supra at 30.

48 See Article, “Bank Merger Plan Puts Spotlight on 214 Years of History in Easton”, EASTON EXPRESS, Tuesday, 10 March 1959, p.22 (regarding the Easton Bank joining the national banking system, also in 1865); Deed, Farmers & Mechanics Bank of Easton to The First National Bank of Easton, 11A 675 (6 July 1865)(sale price $11,677.66); see also Leonard Buscemi, Sr., Slide Lecture on Easton Banks (Slide # 2).

See also Deed, Farmers & Mechanics Bank of Easton to The First National Bank of Easton, 11A 675 (6 July 1865).

49 See Obituary, “John F. Gwinner Passes Away – Was President of the First National Bank and Financier of High Repute”, EASTON EXPRESS, Wed., 6 Sept. 1916, p.5, col.2.

46 John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, I Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 219-20, 228 (New York and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.); see Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania 923 (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co. 1894, reprint by Higginson Book Co. 1970). See also Historical Data Systems (comp.), American Civil War General Officers (online database, Provo, Utah, The Generations Network, Inc., 1999), accessed through www.ancestry.com (regarding General Nathaniel Michler).

50 Record Book of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church of Easton, Pennsylvania (Marx Room Code “B”) 186 (copied in Easton Public Library May 1936).

51 John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, I Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 219-20, 228 (New York and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.); see Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania 923 (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co. 1894, reprint by Higginson Book Co. 1970).

52 Craig L. Bartholomew & Lance E. Metz, The Anthracite Iron Industry of the Lehigh Valley 167 (Center for Canal History and Technology 1988).

53 Craig L. Bartholomew & Lance E. Metz, The Anthracite Iron Industry of the Lehigh Valley 168-69 (Center for Canal History and Technology 1988).

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As an entrepreneur, Peter Michler’s enterprises also “included canalboat building, coal yards, and stores”, as well as being the founder of a gun factory built in the South Easton Abbott Street Industrial Park in 1838.54 He died in 1865.55 Peter Michler was the grandfather of architect William Marsh Michler,56 who later designed the Simon Mansion.

Peter Michler established his residence on the northern part of Lot No.66,57 and rented out a “little frame house” located on the southern part of the Lot. 58 This effectively subdivided the property.

A. Hess Mansion (41 North 3rd Street)

In 1852, the “little frame house” housed the offices of three lawyers: Frank Michler, Edwin Sitgreaves, and Samuel L. Cooley.59 Frank (Francis) Michler was one of Peter Michler’s sons, who had graduated from Yale University in 1849.60

o Frank Michler was (incidentally) also the father of William Marsh Michler,61 the architect who would later design the Simon Mansion.

54 Lance E. Metz and Donald Sayenga, Capt’ Sherman’s Guide to Hugh Moore Park 31 (Easton, PA: Canal History and Technology Press rev. ed. 1998).

55 John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, I Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 220 (New York and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.).

56 John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, I Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 219-20, 228 (New York and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.); see Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania 923 (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co. 1894, reprint by Higginson Book Co. 1970).

57 Article, “Interesting Reminiscence, North Third Street a Third of a Century Ago”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Thursday, 20 Aug. 1885, p.3.

58 See Article, “Interesting Reminiscence, North Third Street a Third of a Century Ago”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Thursday, 20 Aug. 1885, p.3 (the lawyers were Edwin Sitgreaves, Frank Michler, and Samuel L. Cooley); C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 40 (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855)(9 North 3rd Street).

59 Article, “Interesting Reminiscence, North Third Street a Third of a Century Ago”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Thursday, 20 Aug. 1885, p.3.

60 John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, I Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 219-20 (The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.).

61 See 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, pp.392B and 193C (Henry D. Michler, age 24 and William M. Michler, age 12, sons of retired lawyer Francis Michler); accord, John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, I Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 220 (New York and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.)(Dr. Henry D. Michler was the oldest of 6 children, including William Marsh Michler; their father was Francis Michler, a graduate of Yale Law School, who had been a lawyer in Easton and then in the coal business, retiring in 1865).

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In 1855, when buildings in Easton were assigned numbers for postal purposes, lawyer Francis Michler’s office was listed as 11 North 3rd Street.62 Lawyer B.F. Fackenthall was also listed at this address in 1860.63

According to the first Easton City Directory in 1855, 9 North 3rd Street (the address later assigned to the Hess Mansion) was the residence of Painter Samuel Moon.64

This may have been an apartment over the law offices in Michler’s building, or it may have been in a separate building entirely. Moon (1805-60)65was “one of the most prominent artists of Pennsylvania” of the period, having come to Easton in 1830.66 At least 57 of his works have been documented; the largest collection of his work (21 portraits in 1990) is held by the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society.67 One of his portraits (of two boys) sold in 1986 at Sotheby’s for over $4,000.68 Moon was also a son-in-law of famous Easton innkeeper William “Chippy” White.69

In 1857, Peter Michler sold Lot No.66 in two parts. In February of that year, he sold his residence (see below), and then in April he sold the southern half of the Lot to his son, Francis, for $5,500.70 This price for roughly half of the Lot was slightly higher than the price Michler had paid for the entire Lot a decade earlier. Francis almost immediately resold his portion for the same price to Daniel Lachenour,71 the doctor living next door (see below) who was (incidentally) Francis’s father-in-law.72

Dr. Lachenour held the little frame building for seven years, and then resold it to James Hess for $5,000 (i.e. slightly less than he had paid for it). As part of this sale, Hess negotiated a right to attach a new building to the wall of Dr. Lachenour’s house.73 Hess took advantage of this right, to construct a “Brown stone” house74 that was later called the “Hess mansion”.75 By 1870, Hess’s residence (presumably his new brick mansion) had been assigned Samuel Moon’s old residential address of 9 North 3rd Street.76 In 1874, when the modern numbering scheme was adopted in Easton, Hess was assigned the modern address of 41 North 3rd Street.77 [This is the address that would later be used by the Simon Mansion.]

James Hess was born in Lehigh Township in 1820, and married Anetta Pauli in 1843.78 He was a hatter by trade,79 his hat business located at 130 Northampton Street (under the pre-1874 numbering scheme),80 which became 336 Northampton Street under the modern scheme.81 This was the western end of the land that was eventually incorporated into Laubach and Sons Department Store.82 He also invested in real estate. In the late 1840s, Hess built the Hess Apartments (now listed at 507 Northampton Street), and resold that property in 1850 at a considerable profit.83 James Hess appears to have retired from his hat business in the late 1870s.84 By 1881, James Hess returned to the business world through his involvement in “Hess Bros & Co.”, his sons’ wholesale grocery and tobacco firm.85 Hess died on 2 March 1884, at age 63.86 The year after his death, a newspaper article identified the building on this property as the “Hess Mansion”,87 and a few years later the building was described as being of “Brown stone”.88

It thus appears that Hess had replaced the old frame building with a brownstone mansion as his residence.

After Hess died, his widow89 and later his son John’s family90 continued to live in his mansion until it became the basis for the Simon Mansion. It was the first of the properties purchased by Herman Simon for that project, in September 1901.91

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B. Michler House (45 North 3rd Street)

As noted above, Peter Michler made his residence in the northern half of Lot No.66. In 1857, when he sold off the Lot, he obtained $6,000 for his brick residence together with slightly over half of the property.92 Since that price was a thousand dollars more than he had paid eleven years previously for the entire Lot with three buildings – and, as seen above, he had valued the other half of the property conveyed to his son at almost the same figure again – it would appear that the Michler Mansion included significant construction improvements over any of the prior buildings on the Lot. It thus appears that it was Peter Michler who was responsible for building that fine brick mansion that existed on the property into modern times – which is also consistent with the fact that Michler had personally resided in the building.

Michler’s purchaser in 1857 was Cyrus Lawall,93 senior partner of the drug business in the Lawall Building at 437 Northampton Street, and President of the Northampton County National Bank. Lawall also personally resided on the property.94 After Cyrus Lawall died on 10 August 1892,95 Easton merchants closed all of the business buildings in the 400 block of Northampton Street during his funeral.96 Lawall’s widow, Rebecca,97 continued to occupy the house until after the turn of the 20th Century.98

However, in 1901 she and the other Lawall heirs sold it to Laura L. Janvrin, wife of New York Dr. Joseph E. Janvrin, for $8250 plus a promise to pay $220 per year to Mrs. Lawall for life.99

As noted above, the Michler Mansion was not incorporated into the Simon Mansion in 1901. Instead, the Janvrin Family retained ownership of the property for some two decades.100 Easton’s Y.W.C.A. (founded in 1909) moved into this building in 1911, evidently as a tenant. It left that address in 1920.101 Shortly thereafter, Hungarian immigrant and automobile salesman102 Julius deFay became the tenant; he purchased the property for $29,100 on 27 Jan. 1922.103 However, deFay was apparently already in financial trouble, and was soon to be declared bankrupt. A deed dated a few days after deFay’s purchase indicates that deFay had promptly resold the property to Charles H. Haupt, subject to a $20,000 mortgage – evidently as an effort to keep the property out of the hands of the bankruptcy proceedings.104 Despite this deed, the bankruptcy court found that deFay actually remained “in possession, control, and the equitable title owner”. The court accordingly required Haupt to return title to the property to the Trustee of deFay’s bankruptcy estate. Shortly thereafter, deFay’s bankruptcy Trustee was able to obtain $23,500 for the property – by selling it back again to Charles Haupt.105

A month later, Haupt (no doubt in need of funds) leased the property to Paul M. Thomas.106 However, this did not end the saga of financial woe, no doubt exacerbated by the advent of the Great Depression. It appears that Haupt attempted to sell the property, but with inadequate provision made for the lease. In 1931, lessor Paul Thomas sued Charles Haupt, “with Notice to Kathryn O’Hay McNalley, present owner”, and obtained a money judgment, which could not be paid off with available funds. The result was a

92 Deed, Peter S. (Mary B.) Michler to Cyrus Lawall, E9 146 (19 Feb. 1857)(sale price $6,000 for “Brick Messuage or Tenement” on property measuring 27’ 5” on North 3rd Street, and running back to a frontage of 28’ 2” on Sitgreaves Alley).

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Sheriff’s sale of the property to Carrie H. Walter, to generate cash to pay against this judgment debt.107

Ms. Walter apparently had no intention of keeping the property for any length of time. In the following year, she formally sold the property to the lessor, Paul Thomas.108 Ms. Walter was again used as a proxy – this time quite obviously – in 1935 when Paul Thomas vested equal title in his wife in seven different properties, including this one.109

Meanwhile, in 1930 the Y.W.C..A returned to the area, by purchasing the Simon Mansion next door.110 In 1955, the Y.W.C.A. purchased the rear portion of the Michler Mansion property, fronting on Sitgreaves Alley, from Paul and Ina Tomas.111 By 1965

108 Deed, Carrie H. Walter to Paul M. Thomas, B64 264 (2 Sept. 1932). 109 Deed, Paul M. (Ina K.) Thomas to Carrie H. Walter, E66 478 (31 Dec. 1935)(Tract

No.1); Deed, Carrie H. Walter to Paul M. (Ina K.) Thomas, E66 481 (31 Dec. 1935)(Tract No.1). The back-to-back, same day, transactions thus obviously use Ms. Walter as a convenience party, not as an equitable owner.

93 Deed, Peter S. (Mary B.) Michler to Cyrus Lawall, E9 146 (19 Feb. 1857). 94 Article, “Interesting Reminiscence, North Third Street a Third of a Century Ago”,

EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Thursday, 20 Aug. 1885, p.3; George W. West, West’s Guide to Easton [Etc.] 58 (West & Everett, Job Printers 1883); see Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Monday, 24 Nov. 1873, p.3; 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.383A (“Siras Lawall”); Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 475 (George W. West 1885 / 1889); Census Directory of Northampton County (Eleventh U.S. Census 1890) 52 (Joseph H. Werner 1891). See also Kenneth L. Klabunde, “The First 36,500 Days of History, And That’s Only the Beginning!”, THE IRREGULAR, Oct. 2008, p.3 (“Lawall house at 45 North Third Street”).

95 See Deed, Rebecca R. Lawall, Imogene Lawall (Henry W.) Scott, Laura L. (Joseph E.) Janvrin, and Frederick Thompson (Milly Williams) Lawall, to Walter S. Lawall, D30 180 (9 Feb. 1901)(recitals, sale of Lawall Building).

96 John W. Jordon, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, Historic Homes and institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 106-09 (The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.)(building built in 1877).

97 See Deed, Rebecca R. Lawall, Imogene Lawall (Henry W.) Scott, Laura L. (Joseph E.) Janvrin, and Frederick Thompson (Milly Williams) Lawall, to Walter S. Lawall, D30 180 (9 Feb. 1901)(recitals, sale of Lawall Building).

98 1900 Census, S. T623, Roll 1447, p.63B (Rebecca Lawall, age 75, at 45 North 3rd Street). 99 Deed, Rebecca R. Lawall, et al., to Laura L. Janvrin, D30 184 (9 Feb. 1901)(sale price

$8250 plus annual payment of $220 to Rebecca Lawall, widow of Cyrus Lawall, for life). The annual $220 payment represented Mrs. Lawall’s dower rights: the interest on 1/3 of the property’s value for life. The property had been valued at $11,000 by the estate, for this purpose.

100 Deed, Laura L. (Dr. Joseph E.) Janvrin to Edmund R.P. Janvrin, E37 298 (28 Mar. 1908); Deed, Edmund R.P. Janvrin to Dr. Joseph E. Janvrin, E37 297 (28 Mar. 1908).

101 Kenneth L. Klabunde, “The First 36,500 Days of History, And That’s Only the Beginning!”, THE IRREGULAR, Oct. 2008, p.3.

102 1920 Census, Series T625, Roll 1609, p.128B. 103 Deed, Edmund R.P. Janvrin and The Farmers Loan and Trust Company, Executors of the

Estate of Joseph E. Janvrin, to Julius deFay, D49 274 (27 Jan. 1922)(sale price $29,100). The deed recitals give Julius deFay’s address as already being 45 N.3rd St. However, the 1920 Census,

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the North 3rd Street house had become Ina Thomas’s sole property,112 and the Y.W.C.A. purchased it from her in two transactions.113 In 1971, Easton’s Y.W.C.A. planned and built an expansion incorporating the Michler Mansion property to the North at 45 North 3rd St.114 The incorporated Michler Mansion had been a 3½ story house with two dormer windows. The modern 2-story building displays a date stone “1971” on the exterior front wall, and thus appears to have been extensively remodeled by the Y.W.C.A.115 The building currently contains a large “adult day care” center on the ground floor, and two meeting rooms on the floor above. It is accessible through numerous entrances that have been cut through from the Simon Mansion.116

Series T625, Roll 1609, p.128B shows that deFay’s prior address had been 714 Cattell Street. 104 Deed, Julius (Ethyl E.) deFay to Charles H. Haupt, C49 545 (1 Feb. 1922)(reciting the

$20,000 mortgage); Defeasance, Charles H. Haupt to Julius deFay, Mortgage Book 283 64 (1 Feb. 1922).

105 Deed, Charles H. (Flora Keim) Haupt to Thomas A.H. Hay, Trustee, H49 332 (28 Apr. 1922); Deed, Thomas A.H. Hay, Trustee in bankruptcy for Bankrupt Estate of Julius DeFay, to Charles H. Haupt, H49 334 (6 July 1922)(sale price $23,500; and recitals).

106 Lease, Charles H. (Flora Keim) Haupt to Paul M. Thomas, Misc 69 473 (12 Aug. 1922). 107 Deed, John J. Snyder, Sheriff, for Charles H. Haupt, to Carrie H. Walter, H63 152 (17

Nov. 1931). 62 C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA (Cole & Eichman’s

Office, 1855)(lawyers Frank Michler and Max Goepp at No.11 North Third Street).

Francis “Frank” Michler, the common figure in these address listings, was an Easton lawyer born in 1830, who graduated from Yale in 1949. John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, I Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 219-20 (The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.).

63 William H. Boyd, Boyd’s Directory of Reading, Easton, etc. (William H. Boyd 1860)(alphabetical listing). Samuel Moon was at this time living at 5 Lehn’s Court. Id.

64 C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855)(alphabetical listing).

65 Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, “Samuel Moon 1805 – 1860”, in Northampton Notes, Vol.6, No.3, at 1, 4 (August 1990).

66 Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 110-12 (Hillburn & West 1879); see William J. Heller, II History of Northampton County and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh Biographical Section 287-88 (The American Historical Society 1920).

67 Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, “Samuel Moon 1805 – 1860”, in Northampton Notes, Vol.6, No.3, at 1, 4 (August 1990).

68 Gay Elwell, “Just who was Samuel Moon? Society seeks help finding out”, MORNING CALL, Thurs., 19 Apr. 1990, p.N-3.

69 Samuel Moon had married Matilda White on 1 July 1835 in the First Presbyterian Church of Easton. Their son, William White “W.W.” Moon, was thus the grandson of Easton innkeeper William White. See Record of First Presbyterian Church of Easton, Pennsylvania 1811-1887 36, 66 (copied in Easton Public Library 1936); see also David B. Skillman, The Biography of a College 28 (Lafayette College 1932). See generally www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the John A. Innes Residence at 60 North 3rd Street and White’s Hotel Annex at 60 Centre Square.

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Original Town Lot No. 68

The original house on Lot No.68 had been built and occupied by Jacob Gratz Jr. (often spelled Grotz) during the Revolutionary War.117 He formally purchased the land from the Penn Family on 9 November 1789.118 Jacob Grotz Jr. became a carpenter under the apprenticeship of his father, Jacob Gratz Sr.,119 who owned Lot No.62 just up the street.120 Jacob Jr. married Maria Hess, the daughter of Conrad Hess of Williams Township.121

Some confusion has arisen in the Northampton County Orphan’s Court records, because the estate of both Jacob Sr. and Jacob Jr. had court proceedings in 1810, and the

70 Deed, Peter L. (Mary B.) Michler to Francis Michler, F9 222 (14 Apr. 1857). 71 Deed, Francis Michler to Daniel Lachenour, G9 311 (24 June 1858)(sale price $5,500).

This was the same price that appears in the deed between Francis and his father, Peter Michler (see above).

72 Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania 923 (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co. 1894, reprint by Higginson Book Co. 1970); accord, Obituary, “Dr. Michler, Surgeon, Dead”, EASTON EXPRESS, Tues., 22 June 1926, p.1, col.1. Francis Michler’s wife was Julia Lachenour, one of Dr. Daniel Lachenour’s daughters.

73 Deed, Daniel (Margaret) Lachenour to James Hess, A11 395 (7 July 1864)($5,000 for “Frame Messuage tenement” on property with 27’ 3¼” of frontage on North 3rd Street X 140’ deep to Sitgreaves Alley where the frontage was only 25’ 3¾”).

74 See Deed, John F. (Sue H.) Hess to Herman Simon, A31 396 (30 Sept. 1901)(sale of “Brown stone” house on property).

75 Article, “Interesting Reminiscence, North Third Street a Third of a Century Ago”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Thursday, 20 Aug. 1885, p.3.

76 Fitzgerald & Dillon, Easton Directory for 1870-71 50 (Ringwalt & Brown 1870)(James Hess residence at 9 North 3rd Street); Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 81 (1873)(James Hess residence at 9 North Third Street).

77 Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Monday, 24 Nov. 1873, p.3 (James Hess residence to receive the modern address of 41 North 3rd Street); Webb Bros. & Co., Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory 1875-6 64 (M.J. Riegel 1875); J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc,] Directory for 1877 87 (M.J. Riegel 1877); J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1879 94 (M.J. Riegel 1879); 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.383A; J.H. Lant & Son, Easton [Etc.] Directory 1881-2 58 (J.H. Lant 1881); J.H. Lant & Son, Easton [Etc.] Directory 1883-4 68 (J.H. Lant 1883); George W. West, West’s Guide to Easton [Etc.] 58 (West & Everett, Job Printers 1883); see Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 475 (George W. West 1885 / 1889); D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(Mrs. Jas. Hess).

78 Henry F. Marx (compiler), III Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1871 – 1884 Newspaper Extracts 751 (Easton Area Public Library 1935).

79 See Deed, David (Rosanne) Wagener to James Hess, F7 49 (13 June 1846)(regarding sale of the Hess Apartments building at what is now 507 Northampton Street); see C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 34 (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855); Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 81 (1873).

80 C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 34 (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855); Talbot’s Lehigh Valley Gazetteer and Business Directory 1864-65 17 (Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck 1864)(James Hess, hatter, 130 Northampton); Fitzgerald & Dillon, Easton Directory for 1870-71 50 (Ringwalt & Brown 1870)(James Hess, hats, caps and

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court clerk appears to have mixed up the identities of the two men. Jacob Sr. died at age 87 in 1803,122 and his property (Lot No.62) was promptly sold by his heirs.123 In 1810, Jacob Sr.’s widow Elizabeth petitioned Orphan’s Court to appoint a trustee for her two surviving minor children (both aged under 14)124 – but the court clerk erroneously indexed this proceeding to the estate of Jacob Jr. (whose widow’s name was Maria, not Elizabeth!). Meanwhile, Jacob Jr. died of consumption at age 33, in 1808.125 In 1810, two of Jacob Gratz Jr.’s sons petitioned Northampton County Orphan’s Court to value and “partition” (subdivide) his real estate among his widow Maria and the seven surviving children.126 Among those properties, Lot No.68 was valued by the court’s

furs, 130 Northampton); Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 81 (1873).

81 Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Monday, 21 Nov. 1873, p.3 (James Hess, Hats to be assigned 336 Northampton Street); Webb Bros. & Co., Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory 1875-6 64 (M.J. Riegel 1875)(James Hess, hats at 336 Northampton); J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc,] Directory for 1877 87 (M.J. Riegel 1877)(James Hess, hats, caps, &c. at 336 Northampton Street).

82 See separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for William Laubach and Sons Department Store at 322-36 Northampton Street.

83 See separate www.WalkingEaston.com entry for Hess Apartments, 507 Northampton Street, and sources cited therein. The 1850 deed reference matches the name of James Hess’s wife. Compare Deed, James (Annetta P.) Hess to Abraham Friedlich B8 89 (19 Feb. 1850) with Henry F. Marx (compiler), III Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1871 – 1884 Newspaper Extracts 751 (Easton Area Public Library 1935)(James Hess married to Anetta Pauli in 1843).

84 See J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1879 94 (M.J. Riegel 1879)(James Hess with only a residential listing).

85 J.H. Lant & Son, Easton [Etc.] Directory 1881-2 58 (J.H. Lant 1881)(James Hess of Hess Bros. & Co., wholesale grocers at 25-27 North Fourth Street); see J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory 1883-4 68 (J.H. Lant 1883)(James Hess of Hess Bros. wholesale grocers and tobacco at 25-27 North Fourth Street). This firm appears to have been the successor of the 1879 firms “Hess & Dunn” (John Hess’s wholesale tobacco firm) and “H.P. Hess” (a wholesale grocery firm). See J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1879 93-94 (M.J. Riegel 1879). John Hess and Harlem P. Hess were both sons of James Hess. See Henry F. Marx (compiler), III Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1871 – 1884 Newspaper Extracts 751 (Easton Area Public Library 1935)(death notice for James Hess, showing surviving family).

86 Henry F. Marx (compiler), III Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1871 – 1884 Newspaper Extracts 751 (Easton Area Public Library 1935)(James Hess married to Anetta Pauli in 1843).

87 Article, “Interesting Reminiscence, North Third Street a Third of a Century Ago”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Thursday, 20 Aug. 1885, p.3 (“Hess mansion” in 1885).

88 Deed, John F. (Sue H.) Hess to Herman Simon, A31 396 (30 Sept. 1901)(sale price $25,000 for “Brown stone” house on property with a 27’ 3¼” frontage on North 3rd Street, and in the rear extending 28’ 3¾” along Sitgreaves Street).

89 George W. West (compiler), West’s Guide to Easton [Etc.] 62 (George W. West 1887)(Mrs. James Hess residence at 41 North 3rd Street).

90 See 1900 Census, Series T623, Roll 1447, p.63B (John Hess and family listed at 39 North 3rd St.).

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“Inquisition” proceeding at $2,500.127 After the heirs refused to accept it at the valuations assigned by the Court’s inquest,128 the properties were further subdivided into five parcels and auctioned off to the public.129 Unfortunately, the court clerk erroneously indexed these “partition and sale” proceedings to Jacob Gratz Sr., despite the fact that it was Jacob Gratz Jr.’s wife whose name was Maria. This index also lists Jacob “Grotz” Sr. as a resident of Williams Township at his death (despite his lack of any connection there), and lists Jacob “Grotz” Jr. as an Easton resident (despite his father-in-law being a prominent resident of Williams Township). It seems clear that this indexing simply switched the two men’s estates.

91 Deed, John F. (Sue H.) Hess to Herman Simon, A31 396 (30 Sept. 1901)(sale price $25,000 for “Brown stone” house on property with a 27’ 3¼” frontage on North 3rd Street, and in the rear extending 28’ 3¾” along Sitgreaves Street).

110 Kenneth L. Klabunde, “The First 36,500 Days of History, And That’s Only the Beginning!”, THE IRREGULAR, Oct. 2008, p.3.

111 Deed, Paul M. (Ina K.) Thomas to The Young Women’s Christian Association of Easton, Pennsylvania, F96 339 (8 Feb. 1955)(sale price $18,000). This deed reserved some easements, including a right of passage, to the Thomas sellers, who reainted ownership of the portion of the property at North 3rd Street.

112 Deed, Paul M. (Ina K.) Thomas to Ina K. Thomas, F98 220 (5 June 1956)(second tract listed).

113 Deed, Ina K. Thomas to Young Women’s Christian Association, 259 114 (7 Dec. 1965)(3/4 interest sold for $21,000) and 259 117 (7 Dec. 1965)(1/4 interest given as a charitable contribution).

114 Kenneth L. Klabunde, “The First 36,500 Days of History, And That’s Only the Beginning!”, THE IRREGULAR, Oct. 2008, p.3, col.2. Compare D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874) and Sandborn Map Company, Easton, Map No.6 (1919) with Sandborn Map Company, Easton, Map. No.1 (1957).

115 See Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society, Slides “Box 4 Glass”, Row 4 # 87 (digitized as PICT0287). A notation of “3/53” on this slide may indicate that the picture dates from 1953. See also Ronald W. Wynkoop, Sr., A Time to Remember 16 (self published 1985)(picture of Simon Mansion showing the Cyrus Lawall House next door).

116 Visit and Interview with Mike Seip (building manager) (11 July 2014). 117 Charles de Krafft, Map of Easton Original Town Lots (from the collection of Luigi “Lou”

Ferone (“Mr. Easton”) auctioned 27 Feb. 2010, said to have been used by the Penn clerks for notations to keep track of the town lots c.1779-1801)(Lot No.68 “Occupied by Jacob Gratz, junr. House built in the War.”); see Deed, John Penn the Younger and John Penn the Elder to Jacob Grotz Jr., H1 261 (9 Nov. 1789); see also A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 234-35, 261 (Vol. III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940)(Building No.58)(had likely been occupied by Gratz prior to the formal purchased from the Penn Family).

118 Deed, John Penn the Younger and John Penn the Elder to Jacob Grotz Jr., H1 261 (9 Nov. 1789).

119 A.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 234-35, 261 (Vol. III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940)(Building No.58).

120 Patent, Thomas Penn and John Penn to Jacob Grotz Sr., Patent Book AA9 50 (4 May 1772); see A.D. Chidsey, A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 234-35, 260-61 (Vol. III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940)(Building No

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Having straightened out the mis-indexing issue, the Orphan’s Court, the records give valuable information about the state of Lot No.68 in the year 1810. It had been improved by “two Frame Tenements” at that time.130 When it was sold, it was split into two strips both fronting on Pomfret (now North 3rd) Street. The southern strip (next to the Church), with a “two story frame dwelling House” and 30’ 8” of frontage on Pomfret Street, was sold to John Bowes for $2,050 131 -- almost as much as the court had valued the entire Lot. The northern strip, “with a one Story Dwelling house” and only 24’ 4” of frontage on Pomfret Street, was sold for an additional $1,000 to Nathan Gullick.132 The dividing line between the two strips was drawn to put the NE corner of the larger dwelling house in the southern strip.133 A subsequent, 20th Century source asserted that the larger house had been a residence in 1804.134 If so, that would suggest that Gratz had initially occupied the smaller, single-story residence during the Revolution, and then built the larger house on his land later on.

A. Lachenour Mansion / Francis Michler Office Building (35 and 37 North 3rd St.)

56). 121 A.D. Chidsey, A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 234-35, 261 (Vol. III of

Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940)(Building No 58).

122 See Works Progress Administration Personnel (comp. & ed.), III Parish Records of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Easton, PA (Easton Area Public Library designation CCC) 311 (Easton Public Library 1937).

123 Deed, Jacob Grotz and Robert Traill, Executors of the Estate of Jacob Grotz, to Samuel Sitgreaves, G2 558 (2 Dec. 1803)(sale price $320 for “Messuage, tenement” and original town Lot No.62 measuring 60’ on Pomfred (now N.3rd) Street X 240’ deep, plus continued payment of the annual 7 shillings ground rent to the Penn Family); but see A.D. Chidsey, A Frontier Village: Pre-Revolutionary Easton 234-35, 260-61 (Vol. III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940)(Building No 56)(sale price $943.33).

124 Estate of Jacob Grotz, 8 Orphan’s Court Record 299 (25 Aug. 1810). 125 Works Progress Administration Personnel (comp. & ed.), III Parish Records of St. John’s

Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Easton, PA (Easton Area Public Library designation CCC) 317 (Easton Public Library 1937)(Jacob Grotz died of consumption at age 33, on 5 June 1808).

Jacob Gratz (Grotz) Sr. had died of “old age” at age 87, on 17 May 1803. Id. at 311. He had owned Lot No.62 (the second Lot to the North along the street). See www.WalkingEaston.com entry for the Bank Building at 61 North 3rd Street, and sources cited therein).

126 Estate of Jacob Grotz, 8 Orphan’s Court Record 274 (24 Aug. 1810)(petition for partition).

127 Estate of Jacob Grotz, 8 Orphan’s Court Record 322 (23 Nov. 1810). 128 Estate of Jacob Grotz, 8 Orphan’s Court Record 322 (23 Nov. 1810)(return of partition

Inquisition from Sheriff); 8 Orphan’s Court Record 328 (27 Nov. 1810)(heirs all refuse land at valuation assigned, petition to sell land to the public).

129 Estate of Jacob Grotz, 8 Orphan’s Court Record 337 (25 Jan. 1811)(report of estate administrators on land sales); accord, Deed, John Grotz and Isaac Grotz, Administrators of the Estate of Jacob Grotz, to John Bowes, G3 13 (1 Apr. 1811)(recitals).

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The smaller house on the northern portion of Lot No.68, that had been sold by Jacob Gratz’s estate in 1811 to Nathan Gulick for $1,000,135 passed through two additional owners at the same price in the following year. It ended up in the hands of John Carey Jr.,136 who held it until 1830. At that time, he was only able to get $800 for it, in a sale to Francis Alsfelt.137 Alsfelt died very suddenly in 1831 at age 42, leaving a wife and five children. “His remains were followed to the grave on Sunday afternoon by one of the largest funeral processions recollected in Easton”, including more than 70 members of his Beneficial Society.138 In 1834, his estate sold the property for $1,161 to Dr. Daniel Lachenour.139

Dr. Lachenour became “one of the most prominent physicians in Easton”.140 He had studied medicine in Bethlehem for three years and then received a degree “with distinguished honors” from the University of Pennsylvania in 1829. He came to Easton in 1832 to take over the pre-existing practice of Dr. Samuel Gross. Two years later, he purchased the house on North 3rd Street. He was highly dedicated to his work. “No night was too dark, no day too cold, rarely a storm too severe to keep him from the bedside of the sick.” Because of his language competency (as a life-long Moravian raised in Salem, NC and Bethlehem, PA), his Easton practice grew to include many of the town’s German-speakers.141 Dr. Lachenour’s address had been 7 North 3rd Street prior to 1874.142

When the modern numbering scheme was adopted, his office was assigned the address of 35 North 3rd Street, and his residence became No.37.143

135 Estate of Jacob Grotz, 8 Orphan’s Court Record 337 (25 Jan. 1811); Deed, John Grotz and Isaac Grotz, Administrators of the Estate of Jacob Grotz, to Nathan Gulick, F5 316 (3 June 1811)(sale price $1,000 for Parcel No.2 measuring 24’ 4” 240’, a portion of Lot No.68).

136 Deed, Nathan (Elizabeth) Gulick to Abraham Horn Jr., F5 317 (13 July 1812)(sale price $1,000); Deed, Abraham (Elizabeth) Horn Jr. to John Carey Jr., F5 318 (12 Aug. 1812)(sale price $1,000).

137 Deed, John (Christina) Carey Jr. to Francis Alsfelt, F5 319 (3 Apr. 1830)(sale price $800).

138 Henry F. Marx (compiler), I Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1799 – 1851 Newspaper Extracts 361 (Easton Area Public Library 1929)(from Easton Centinel of Fri., 11 Nov. 1831, died “Friday morning last”).

139 Deed, Christina (Matthias) Hahn, Administratrix of the Estate of Francis Alsfelt, to Daniel Lachenour, H5 640 (28 Apr. 1834)(sale price $1,161 for property measuring 24’ 4” X 240’ deed).

140 Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania 923 (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co. 1894, reprint by Higginson Book Co. 1970).

141 Rev. Uzal W. Condit, History of Easton, Penn’a 441 (George P. West 1885 / 1889). 142 C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA 39 (Cole &

Eichman’s Office, 1855)(No.7 North 3rd Street); William H. Boyd, Boyd’s Directory of Reading, Easton, [Etc.] 125 (William H. Boyd 1860)(alphabetical listing for Daniel Lachenour Jr. and Henry D. Lachenour, both physicians); Talbot’s Lehigh Valley Gazetteer and Business Directory 1864-65 21 (Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck 1864)(listing for D. Lachenour, physician); Fitzgerald & Dillon, Easton Directory for 1870-71 58 (Ringwalt & Brown 1870)(joined by Dr. Henry D. Lachenour). See generally 1870 Census, Series M593, Roll 1382, p.14B (Daniel and Henry D. Lachenour, both physicians).

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Dr. Daniel Lachenour’s son, Dr. Henry D. Lachenour,144 continued to live with his father and joined his medical practice on North 3rd Street.145 Although continuing to be listed with his father in 1873,146 Dr. Henry purchased his own house at the NE corner of 2nd and Spring Garden Streets.147 After his father died in 1875,148 Dr. Henry established his own, separate medical practice in his new house, at what became 165 Spring Garden Street.149

An interesting personal connection developed out of Dr. Henry D. Lachenour’s further careers. Ten years later, in 1885, the younger Dr. Lachenour sold his house at Spring Garden and 2nd Street,150 and purchased the McKeen Mansion farther up Spring

143 Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Monday, 24 Nov. 1873, p.3 (No.35 was Dr. Lachenour’s office, No.37 was his residence); compare D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874) with Sanborn Map Company, Easton, Map, No.1 (1957).

130 Estate of Jacob Grotz, 8 Orphan’s Court Record 274 (24 Aug. 1810). 131 Estate of Jacob Grotz, 8 Orphan’s Court Record 337 (25 Jan. 1811); Deed, John Grotz

and Isaac Grotz, Administrators of the Estate of Jacob Grotz, to John Bowes, G3 13 (1 Apr. 1811).

132 Estate of Jacob Grotz, 8 Orphan’s Court Record 337 (25 Jan. 1811); Deed, John Grotz and Isaac Grotz, Administrators of the Estate of Jacob Grotz, to Nathan Gulick, F5 316 (3 June 1811)(sale price $1,000 for Parcel No.2 measuring 24’ 4” 240’, a portion of Lot No.68).

133 Estate of Jacob Grotz, 8 Orphan’s Court Record 337 (25 Jan. 1811); Deed, Since this back corner was the marker, we can conclude that the house was not set square with the street, but on an angle, with the back corner sticking out farthest to the North.

134 Article, “Easton Landmark to be Torn Down. Siegert House Will Give Place to a Large Mansion – Once the House of a Waterloo Veteran – Fremont and Bryan Entertained There”, Report to “The Press”, in Easton Public Library, I The Book Shelf Scrap Book of Easton and Northampton Co. 51 (Easton Public Library 1936)(available in the Marx Room).

145 See 1860 Census, Series 1147, Roll M653, p.295 (both Dr. Daniel (age 65) and Dr. H.D. (age 21) Lachenour listed in the same household – listing erroneous mis-ascribed Margaret instead of Daniel as the “Physician”); 1870 Census, Series 1382, Roll M593, p.14B (Drs. Daniel (age 65) and Henry D. (age 30) Lachenour in same household); Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 90 (1873)(Drs. Daniel and Henry D. Lachenour both at 7 North 3rd Street).

146 Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 90 (1873)(Drs. Daniel and Henry D. Lachenour both at 7 North 3rd Street).

147 Deed, Sarah Milligan to Henry Dr. Lachenour (Physician), A14 386 (1 Apr. 1873); see also www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 165 Spring Garden Street.

Young Dr. Henry Lachenour does not appear to have established his own independent medical practice before his father’s death. In 1873-74, as the modern street numbering scheme was being adopted, no number on Spring Garden Street was assigned to Dr. Lachenour. The last address listed on Spring Garden Street before its intersection with 2nd Street was the residence of Abram Fangboner, assigned the address 151 Spring Garden Street. In 1875 (the year of his father’s death), Dr. Henry Lachenour was shown as a boarder at 127 Northampton Street. Webb Bros. & Co., Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory 1875-6 75 (M.J. Riegel 1875).

148 Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania 923 (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co. 1894, reprint by Higginson Book Co. 1970).

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Garden Street.151 There, he established his medical practice and residence, in partnership with Dr. Henry D. Michler,152 his nephew.

Dr. Henry Michler was a son of Francis Michler (see above) and Julia Lachenour, one of Dr. Daniel Lachenour’s daughters.153 Mrs. Francis Michler was, thus, Dr. Henry D. Lachenour’s sister.]

Dr. Henry Michler had initially studied medicine in the offices of the Drs. Lachenour (his grandfather and uncle), after he had graduated from Lafayette College in 1876, and before he had gone to formal medical school at the University of Pennsylvania.154 The family and professional connections with young Dr. Michler are notable primarily because Dr. Michler’s younger brother was William Marsh Michler,155 who became the architect for the Simon Mansion (see above).

Meanwhile (as noted above), Dr. Daniel Lachenour died in 1875.156 His widow remained in the North 3rd Street house.157 In 1895, Dr. Lachenour’s estate sold his North 3rd Street house to lawyer Francis (Frank) Michler, with a brick building on it (presumably the doctor’s former residence), for $6,050.158 This brick office space was presumably an improvement over the frame building that lawyer Michler had occupied next door, some years before (see below). In fact, however, Francis Michler allowed at least part of the office space at No.37 to be used by lhis son, architect William Marsh Michler159 – the same architect who designed Simon’s Mansion for him. It was architect William Marsh Michler who in 1901 apparently convinced Herman Simon to buy the property to add to his mansion grounds, at a sale price of $8,500. Simon purchased it in October 1901,160 a month after his purchase of the Hess Mansion as the basis for his grand mansion house.

B. Siegert Mansion (33 North 3rd St., previously listed as 5 North 3rd Street)

Located next to the Church, the southern strip with the large, 2-story house had been sold by Jacob Gratz’s estate to tobacconist John Bowes in 1811 for $2,050.161 In 1843, it was purchased by John E. Siegert for $5,500.162 This price appreciate may be simply the product of time, but more likely indicates that Bowes had considerably improved the house. After 1843, the property became known as the Siegert Homestead.163

Five years after his purchase (in 1848), Siegert concluded a property line agreement with his neighbor, Dr. Lachenour. This agreement clarified the property line between them first to run along the southern wall of Dr. Lachenour’s house, and then along the northern edge of Siegert’s brick wall. The agreement then directed that the line should be extended further, by lining up along “the North Eastern corner of said

144 Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania 923 (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co. 1894, reprint by Higginson Book Co. 1970).

149 See J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1877 98 (M.J. Riegel 1877)(Henry D. Lachenour, physician, at the corner of Spring Garden and 2nd Streets); J.H. Lant, Easton, [Etc,] Directory for 1879 108 (M.J. Riegel 1879)(same). See generally 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.379B; www.WalkingEaston.com entry for 165 Spring Garden Street.

150 Deed, Henry D. (Laura) Lachenour M.D. to Nathan H. Heft, D18 249 (27 Mar. 1885).

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[Siegert’s] Building at the third Brick from the Stone wall upwards”.164 This seems consistent with the original 1811 attempt to draw the line at the NE corner of what had now become Siegert’s house, although the specification that this should be measured at the “third Brick” suggests that some irregularity had accrued to that corner over time, perhaps as the house had settled. In addition, the careful effort to place the two additional walls in the property of their respective owners, may reflect additional construction since 1811 that had been imprecise as to the matter of the original property line.

Given this “third Brick” precision, it should come as no surprise that John Siegert had immigrated from a German principality in 1833. Siegert held a medal as a member of the Pomeranian Infantry, which had been part of Marshall Blücher’s Prussian army. In fact, Siegert was proud of having participated in defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815,165 before immigrating to America. Prior to purchasing his Easton

151 Deed, Harriet Porter to Henry D. Lachenour, H18 305 (27 Mar. 1885). 152 J.H. Lant, Easton [Etc.] Directory for 1884-5 98 (1884)(Henry D. Michler, partner in

Lachenour & Michler, physicians; home at 37 North 3rd Street); see George W. West, West’s Guide to Easton [Etc.] 137, 158 (George W. West 1889)(H.D. Michler and Henry D. Lachenour both listed to the house at 231 Spring Garden Street, together with the Lachenour & Michler medical practice); George W. West, West’s Guide to Easton [Etc.] 83, 99 (George W. West 1887)(Dr. H.D. Lachenour and Dr. Henry D Michler, partners in Lachenour & Michler at the corner of Spring Garden and Sitgreaves Streets).

153 Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania 923 (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co. 1894, reprint by Higginson Book Co. 1970); accord, Obituary, “Dr. Michler, Surgeon, Dead”, EASTON EXPRESS, Tues., 22 June 1926, p.1, col.1.

154 Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania 923 (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co. 1894, reprint by Higginson Book Co. 1970).

155 See 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, pp.392B and 193C (Henry D. Michler, age 24 and William M. Michler, age 12, sons of retired lawyer Francis Michler); accord, John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, I Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 220 (New York and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.)(Dr. Henry D. Michler was the oldest of 6 children, including William Marsh Michler; their father was Francis Michler, a graduate of Yale Law School, who had been a lawyer in Easton and then in the coal business, retiring in 1865); Obituary, “Dr. Michler, Surgeon, Dead”, EASTON EXPRESS, Tues., 22 June 1926, p.1, col.1 & p.3, col.3 (brothers included William M. Michler). See also Jane S. Moyer (compiler), XIII Marriages and Deaths Northampton County 1885-1902 Newspaper Extracts 23 (Easton Area Public Library 1976)(notice of William Marsh Michler’s marriage on 4 Oct. 1899 to Matilda Runkle Bacon confirms that William Marsh Michler’s father was Francis Michler).

156 Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania 923 (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co. 1894, reprint by Higginson Book Co. 1970).

157 Article, “Interesting Reminiscence, North Third Street a Third of a Century Ago”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Thursday, 20 Aug. 1885, p.3.

158 Deed, Easton Trust Co., Trustee for the Estate of Daniel Lachenour, to Francis Michler, D26 573 (1 Apr. 1895)(sale price $6,050 for “brick dwelling house” on property measuring 25’ 4” 240’ deep).

159 American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 21 (written c.1902 during Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics).

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property in 1843, Siegert had lived in Bethlehem, and pursuing an occupation as a “Tallow Chandler”.166 In Easton, Siegert was a Republican Party local chairman. In 1856, he held a dinner in his North 3rd Street home for Presidential Candidate John C. Freemont and running mate Carl Schurz. Other visitors included poet William Cullen Bryant and politician Thaddeus Stevens.

Siegert died in 1872.167 After his death, his wife continued to live on the property.168 In 1880, it was sold to wire manufacturer Charles Stewart,169 but (along with 20 other real estate parcels) it was seized by the Sheriff in 1897170 and sold to the First National Bank of Easton the following year. The Bank sold it to Reuben Kolb,171 an Easton Alderman and attorney Reuben (also spelled Rheuben) Kolb, who made it his residence (at No.33) and office (at No.31). Kolb also conducted a real estate and insurance business from the premises.172 Born in 1837, Kolb had started life as a teacher in Forks Township at age 16, and then the Easton City schools at age 19. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania Militia during the Civil War, and obtained a job with the US assessor’s office until he lost that job (presumably as a result of political patronage) during the Andrew Johnson Administration. At that point, he West to Montana for 18 months to represent investors in a silver mine, and then returned to Pennsylvania to superintend various businesses at White Haven. He returned to Easton as a bookkeeper for the Seitz Brewery, later started his insurance business, and then added ”large real estate operations”. He was the first President of the West Ward Building & Loan Association. He became a Justice of the Peace, and then Alderman for Easton’s Second Ward. He

160 Deed, Francis (Julia A.) Michler to Herman Simon, B31 415 (15 Oct. 1901)(sale price $8,500 for “brick dwelling house” on property measuring 24’ 4” (on North 3rd Street) X 240’ deep).

161 Estate of Jacob Grotz, 8 Orphan’s Court Record 337 (25 Jan. 1811); Deed, John Grotz and Isaac Grotz, Administrators of the Estate of Jacob Grotz, to John Bowes, G3 13 (1 Apr. 1811).

162 Deed, John (Mary) Bowes to John F.E. Siegert, B7 127 (14 Oct. 1843)(sale price $5,500 for “Messuage or Tenement” with 30’ 8” of frontage on North 3rd Street X 240’ deep).

163 Compare D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874) with Sanborn Map Company, Easton, Map. No.1 (1957). See also Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Monday, 24 Nov. 1873, p.3 (Mrs. J.F.E. Siegert assigned No.33); William H. Boyd, Boyd’s Directory of Reading, Easton, etc. (William H. Boyd 1860)(listings for John F.E. Siegert, and C.F. Siegert, soap manufacturer, at 4 North 3rd Street); Talbot’s Lehigh Valley Gazetteer and Business Directory 1864-65 (Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck 1864)(listing for John F.E. Siegert, soap and candle manufacturer at 5 North Third Street); 1870 Census, Series M593, Roll 1382, p.14B (listing John Siegert, “Gentleman”, his wife Joanna and family); Article, “Interesting Reminiscence, North Third Street a Third of a Century Ago”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Thursday, 20 Aug. 1885, p.3.

In the 1860s, this property was numbered 5 North 3rd Street. See William H. Boyd, Boyd’s Directory of reading, Easton, etc. (William H. Boyd 1860)(alphabetical listing for Siegert); Talbot’s Lehigh Valley Gazetteer and Business Directory 1864-65 (Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck 1864)(same).

165 Article, “Easton Landmark to be Torn Down. Siegert House Will Give Place to a Large Mansion – Once the House of a Waterloo Veteran – Fremont and Bryan Entertained There”, Report to “The Press”, in Easton Public Library, I The Book Shelf Scrap Book of Easton and Northampton Co. 51 (Easton Public Library 1936)(available in the Marx Room).

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served in these official capacities for 26 years before his death at age 85 in 1922, then considered to be “one of Easton’s oldest and best known residents”.173 It was Kolb who sold the 33 North 3rd Street property to Herman Simon in 1902,174 to add to his mansion grounds.

164 See Agreement, Daniel Lachenour and John F.E. Siegert, Misc.8 119 (17 Apr. 1848)(establishing the boundary between the two properties partitioned from Lot No.68).

166 See Deed, John (Mary) Bowes to John F.E. Siegert, B7 127 (14 Oct. 1843)(recitals). 169 Deed, George S. Siegert and B. Frank Siegert, Executors of the Will of J.J. Caritis Siegert

(heir of John Siegert), to Charles Stewart, F16 629 (11 Nov. 1880)(sale price $7,300 for part of original town Lot No.68, measuring 30’ 8” on North 3rd Street X 240’ deep).

170 Deed Poll, Thomas Fennicle, Sheriff, for Charles Stewart, to The First National Bank of Easton, B28 625 (19 July 1897)(Parcel No.3).

171 Deed, First National Bank of Easton to Reuben Kolb, E28 178 (31 March 1898)(sale price $6,500).

172 American Journal of Progress, “Greater Easton of To-day” 6 (written c.1902 during Mayor B. Rush Field’s second 3-year term, reprinted courtesy of W-Graphics).

Kolb was still listed at 31 North 3rd Street in 1904, and his residence identified as being 33 North 3rd Street. This was after the Simon Mansion was supposedly built in 1902. Since it seems unlikely that Kolb would have moved his residence and office into Simon’s Mansion, this listing could indicate that Kolb was in a separate building not yet incorporated in the Simon Mansion; or that the West directory improperly carried over the old address in 1904. George W. West (compiler), Directory of Easton City 139 (George W. West 1904)(Reuben Kolb, Alderman and Insurance, 31 North 3rd Street, residence at 33 North 3rd Street).

The 1906 directory shows that Kolb had by then moved to South 4th Street. See George W. West (compiler), Directory of Easton [Etc.] 155 (George W. West 1906)(119 South 4th Street); Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 1912 285 (The West Job Printing House 1912)(Reuben (Matilda) Kolb, residence at 117 South 4th Street); Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 292 (The Union Publishing Co. 1914)(same); 1920 Census, Series T625, Roll 1609, p. 189B (Ruben Kolb, age 82, real estate, residence at 119 South 4th Street); Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 337 (Charles M. Barnard 1920)(same).

167 Article, “Easton Landmark to be Torn Down. Siegert House Will Give Place to a Large Mansion – Once the House of a Waterloo Veteran – Fremont and Bryan Entertained There”, Report to “The Press”, in Easton Public Library, I The Book Shelf Scrap Book of Easton and Northampton Co. 51 (Easton Public Library 1936)(available in the Marx Room).

168 See D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(“Mrs. Siegert”); Article, “The New Numbers”, EASTON DAILY FREE PRESS, Monday, 24 Nov. 1873, p.3 (No.33 the residence of Mrs. J.F.E. Siegert).

173 Obituary, “Reuben Kolb Dead at 85”, EASTON EXPRESS, Wed., 26 April 1922, p.1, col.6.

Reuben Kolb’s residence was initially at 202 North Front Street. 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.389C. By 1898, he had moved to 103 Bushkill Street. George W. West (compiler),

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West’s Directory of Easton [Etc.] 133 (George W. West 1898). After the Simon Mansion replaced that property in 1902, Kolb moved to South 4th Street. See George W. West (compiler), Directory of Easton [Etc.] 155 (George W. West 1906)(119 South 4th Street); Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 1912 285 (The West Job Printing House 1912)(Reuben (Matilda) Kolb, residence at 117 South 4th Street); Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 292 (The Union Publishing Co. 1914)(same); 1920 Census, Series T625, Roll 1609, p. 189B (Ruben Kolb, age 82, real estate, residence at 119 South 4th Street); Charles M. Barnard (compiler), West’s Directory for City of Easton 337 (Charles M. Barnard 1920)(same).

174 Deed, Reuben (Matilda) Kolb to Herman Simon, A32 348 (30 Aug. 1902)(sale price $12,000 for parcel measuring 30’ 8” X 240’ deep).

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