My Genealogy Hound

AUGUST STEITZ is a man much respected in Catasauqua, where he is engaged in the manufacture of baskets. He is ex-Supervisor, and by his strict morality and integrity of purpose has furnished an excellent example to others, and has at various times been of great service to his friends. He was born in Germany, April 4, 1826, and has resided in America since May 2, 1854. His father, John Steitz, was also a native of the Fatherland, where he carried on the occupation of a carpenter and builder. He departed this life in his native land in 1846, when in his sixty-second year. His good wife, Mrs. Elizabeth (Schidts) Steitz, survived him many years, dying when seyenty-five years of age. Of their ten children only three grew to mature years: Conrad, who died in South America; August, of whom we write; and Henry, whose decease occurred in Allentown.

August Steitz was reared to mature years in his native land, and was confirmed at the age of fourteen. He worked on farms for six years thereafter, and then entered the German army, becoming a member of the Second Regiment, Seventh Company. In the winter of 1852 he was married to Miss Christiana Bornemann, also a native of Germany, where she was given a good education. There Mr. Steitz learned the art of basket-making, and two years after his marriage he set sail from Bremen with his family, on the vessel “ Louisa,” which landed them in New York after a tedious voyage of six weeks. He immediately made his way to this state, and for two years was hostler in one of the hotels in Philadelphia. In November of that year he found work in the Eberhart Stone quarry, where he remained for nine years, and during that time made baskets evenings.

After leaving the quarry, Mr. Steitz located on a small tract of land in East Catasauqua, where he engaged in raising garden stuff, which was marketed in the city. After being twelve years thus occupied, he spent the following six years as an employe in the foundry of Davies & Thomas. At the expiration of that time he abandoned all other kinds of work, and has since given his entire time to the manufacture of baskets. His residence is located at No. 426 Race Street, and few of the old residents of East Catasauqua have been more thoroughly identified with its various interests than he.

To Mr. and Mrs. Steitz were born seven children, namely: Henry G., Christian H., Conrad A., John W.; Augusta D., now Mrs. John Brophy; Franklin L; and Elizabeth C., the wife of C. J. Deily. In 1872 Mr. Steitz was elected Supervisor of Upper Hanover Township, serving a term of two years. In 1891 he was re-elected to the same position, and has also held the position of Collector of that township. Religiously he is a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and is active in all good works in his community. His political adherence is given to the principles of Democracy, and (or several years he has been a member of the County Committee, and served as delegate to various conventions. He is one of those courteous, genial men who have always a high place in the regard of the community in which they reside.