MOYER
Portrait and Biographical Record ~ Pages 192-193
Kindly submitted by: Nancy Tweedie
JONAS F. MOYER, who was appointed by President
Cleveland to the position of Postmaster of Catasaugua in the
spring of 1894, is making a good record in this capacity. He is
a leading Democrat, having been one of the workers in the ranks
of his party, and for the past twelve years has been a
correspondent for the Allentown, Daily Item.
Born at Macungie, in this county, June 2, 1850, J.F. Moyer is
the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Mertz) Moyer, the
father a native of Upper Milford, and the mother of Macungie.
The paternal grandfather was born in the Keystone State, but his
father was a native of Holland, who became one of the early
settlers of this county. Samuel Moyer was a carpenter by trade,
and assisted in Building the locks in the canal, and also
erected the first brick house in the borough of Macungie. Later
he owned a slateyard, and was a partner in the foundry of Miller
& Moyer. In other enterprises he was also active. Though now
seventy-seven years of age he takes a great interest in the
Evangelical Lutheran Church, and is living a retired life in the
borough which has been his home since boyhood. His wife was a
daughter of Henry Mertz, a native of the same place, who was a
broom manufacturer.
In his parents’ family, which comprised eight children, Jonas F.
Moyer is the fourth in order of birth, all but two of the
family still living. He was reared in the place of his birth,
attending the public schools, and about 1861 commenced his
active career, his first work being in a brickyard. Afterward he
worked on a farm in the vicinity, and then on one in Bucks
County, during which time he attended school to some extent. We
next find him a clerk in a store at Macungie, from where he went
to Philadelphia, obtaining employment in a grocery. Once more
returning to his childhood’s home, he engaged as a clerk in the
same store, but about 1869 he began teaching at Alburtis, and
taught there for one term, following the same business for some
seven or eight terms in the vicinity of Macungie. During this
time he attended the Keystone Normal, working his own way, and
graduating June 1, 1877, with the degree of Bachelor of
Elements. Two years later he received the degree of Master of
Elements. After this he resumed teaching, and the following two
years taught at Ironton, and later for one year at Sand Springs.
Thus the years passed, his time being mainly given to teaching
until 1883. In 1879 he took the First Ward School in Allentown,
which he taught for one year, and then for the same length of
time taught the school in North Whitehall Township, near
Unionville. After leaving Unionville he came to Catasauqua,
teaching here for two years, when he changed his vocation and
became a bookkeeper for William Yunger in his flourmill. At the
end of two years he resigned his position in the mill to engage
in the life-insurance business, which he has since continued
with the exception of some five winters when he taught the Faust
Grammar School, and in Allen Township. While in the life
insurance business Mr. Moyer represented the Mutual Benefit
Association of Newark, NJ, and in its interest has traveled
considerably in adjoining counties.
In this city Mr. Moyer was married, in 1878, to Miss
Celia R. Troxell, who was born in Washington Township, of
this county, and is a daughter of E.A. Troxell, who is
engaged in merchandising in Catasauqua. To Mr. and Mrs. Moyer
were give seven children, five of whom are living, as follows:
Samuel E., Ida E., William A., Russell R., and Ella May. Mary E.
and Solon F. are deceased.
In January, 1894, Mr. Moyer was give the preference over about
twenty-three applicants, and received the appointment of
Postmaster, taking possession of the office immediately. He has
many warm friends and supporters in his party, who have been
most happy to give him their patronage and support, and the
wisdom of their selection and recommendation has been shown in
the manner in which he has conducted the affairs of the office.
Mr. Moyer is an Odd Fellow; is Past Officer of the Knights of
the Golden Eagle, having represented his lodge in the Grand
Lodge, and is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America,
being one of the founders of the lodge and Past Officer. For one
term he served on the Grand Jury, and, in brief, has been in
many ways before the public in leading roles. A member of the
Reformed Church, he is one of its active workers and is
Superintendent of the Sunday-school.
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Source: Portrait and
Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties,
Pennsylvania. Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and
Representative Citizens of the Counties, Together with
Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States. Chicago, Chapman Publishing Co., 1894; |
Page last updated:
Wednesday, 25 April 2007 |
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