My Genealogy Hound

FRANK H. KIECHEL. A glance at the lives of the representative men whose names appear in this volume will reveal many sketches of honorable and influential citizens, but among them none are more worthy or more deserving of mention than Frank Kiechel, who is a prominent politician of Whitehall Township, and who is now serving as Auditor. He comes of an old and respected family of Lehigh County, and makes his home at the present time in West Catasauqua.

A native of Northampton County, our subject was born in Hanover Township, October 20, 1850, while his father, Edward Kiechel, is a native of Whitehall Township, this county. The grandfather, who bore the name of Abraham, was of German descent, and was also born in the above township, where he followed farm pursuits all his life. The first representative of the family to come to America located here as early as 1722, and established this branch of the family in the Lehigh Valley.

Edward Kiechel was a blacksmith, which trade he carried on in Hanover Township until 1866, when he removed to Shoenersville, and plied his trade in that place for six years, at the end of that time removing to Whitehall. He is now living in Catasauqua, retired from the active duties of life. In his religious connections he is identified with the German Reformed Church. His wife, Mrs. Mary (Snyder) Kiechel, was born in Northampton County, and was the daughter of Henry Snyder, a carpenter, who died in that county in 1860, when in his sixtieth year. The mother of our subject is still living, making her home in Catasauqua, and is connected by membership with the Lutheran Church.

Frank H. was the eldest of a large family of ten children, only one of whom is deceased. He received his education in the public schools of Shoenersville, Whitehall and Mechanicsville, and when seventeen years of age learned the blacksmith business under the instruction of his father. In 1870, however, he left home, and coming to this city, began working for D. A. Tumbler, a brick manufacturer, holding the positions of bookkeeper and timekeeper. He severed his connection with that gentleman in 1872, in which year he entered the car shops at Fullerton, where he was given a position in the blacksmith department. In July of the following year he became an employe of the Catasauqua & Fogelsville Railroad Company, in whose shops he was head of the blacksmith department. In 1880 he was sent out as assistant machinist in their round house, and has since been in charge of that branch of the company’s interests. In 1891 the road sold out to the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company, in whose employ Mr. Kiechel is at the present time. He has charge of the entire round house, and has shown good judgment and fidelity in the discharge of his duties and obligations.

The marriage of our subject occurred in this city January 27, 1870, at which time Miss Rebecca C., daughter of Elias Meyers, became his wife. She was born in North Whitehall Township, and her father, who is still living, is a retired tinsmith living in Mountain Top, Luzerne County, this state. To Mr. and Mrs. Kiechel has been born one daughter, Hannah J.

Mr. Kiechel was elected Auditor of Whitehall Township in 1874, for a term of three years. In 1888 he was again called upon to fill that position, and in 1891 was re-elected Auditor on the Democratic ticket. He has served on the Election Board several times, and as a stanch Democrat is filling his fourth term on the County Standing Committee. He has been sent as delegate to the different conventions of the party, in the success of which he has been greatly interested. Socially he belongs to Catasauqua Lodge No. 269, I. O. O. F., in which he has been District Deputy Grand Master of the county. Religiously he is identified with the German Reformed Church, in which he has been Elder and Sunday-school Superintendent.