My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES G. SCHNELLER. From the successful career of this gentleman there may be gleaned many lessons worthy of emulation by the young and admiration by the old. Commencing life for himself at the age of fourteen without money or influence, he steadily worked his way upward, advancing in commercial circles until he became the head of a large establishment. At the time he retired, in 1888, he was the oldest business man in Catasauqua.

Mr. Schneller was born in Bethlehem, Pa., November 10, 1821. His grandfather, Rev. Charles G. Schneller, who was born in Saxony, Germany, was sent as a Moravian missionary to the West Indies, and later went to England, where he died. George C., our subject’s father, was born in St. Kitt’s, West Indies, in 1790, and was brought to the United States, to Bethlehem, Pa., when four years old. In youth he attended the schools of Bethlehem, and afterward, removing to Nazareth, learned the trades of shoemaking and gunsmithing, which he followed for some time. Later on, however, he was employed as a miller, mostly in Northampton County. His death occurred in Bethlehem in 1874, when in his eighty-fourth year.

The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Mary Brown, was born in Bethlehem in 1800, and there died in 1860. Her father, Otto Brown, likewise a native of Bethlehem, carried on his trade of a thread-dyer in that city. Charles G., of this sketch, was the eldest of the thirteen children born to his parents, of whom five are now living. After a comparatively brief attendance at the public schools, he began, at the age of fourteen, to serve a seven-years apprenticeship to the trade of tinsmithing with H. B. Luckenbach, of Bethlehem, Pa. On thoroughly mastering the business he worked for a short time as a journeyman with his old boss, and then, in 1842, started in the stove and tin business at Springtown, Bucks County, afterward moving to Pleasant Valley, in the same county, where he remained until 1848. Coming to Catasauqua in that year, he erected a shop on the corner of Second Street and Raspberry Alley, where he opened up in business, being the first tinsmith to locate here. In 1854 he removed his stock of goods to Front and Strawberry Streets, where he erected a brick block and greatly enlarged his business, giving employment to five men.

In 1881 our subject took in as partner his son Charles W., and they continued together until 1888, when Mr. Schneller disposed of his interest in the business to his son. He is now living retired in his beautiful residence, completed in 1888, and situated on the corner of Third and Walnut Streets. He is also the owner of several other dwellings and lots in the city, and platted Schneller’s Addition to Catasauqua, comprising three acres of land, which he divided into lots. He occupies a prominent place among the influential citizens of this town, and is a stockholder and Director in the National Bank of Catasauqua, with which he has been, connected since 1857, and of which he is the oldest stockholder.

In Allentown, in 1849, Mr. Schneller married Miss Mary Heubner, who was born in Nockamixon Township, Bucks County, this state, and was a daughter of Henry Heubner, also a native of that section. Mrs. Sehneller became the mother of six children, and departed this life January 8, 1892. Her family included Henry D., who died when in his fifteenth year; John P., who is engaged in the hardware business in Catasauqua; Emma E., at home with her father; Charles W., who succeeded his father in business; Laura R., deceased; and Mary M., Mrs. R. O. Heilman, of this city.

Since Lincoln’s administration Mr. Schneller has been a strong Republican. He served as School Director on the first board of this place, and after the incorporation of Catasauqua filled the position of City Treasurer for fifteen years. In the Evangelical Church he has held every official position, and served as Superintendent of the Sunday-school for ten years. He is a man whose character and personal attributes are such as to win for him the confidence and friendship of the best people of the city.