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Below is a family biography included in the book,  Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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FRANKLIN ALBERT SCHEIRER, of Slatington, is engaged in the manufacture of artistic granite and marble monuments, and is also a dealer in blue stone, coping, curbing, steps, sills, flagging, etc. As a result of the business-like manner in which he has managed his affairs, he has become well-to-do, and now ranks among the most enterprising citizens of the place. The first representative of the family in America was Hans Scheirer, who emigrated hither from Switzerland in 1725. Seven years later he married Mary Magdalene, daughter of Jacob Christ, and they became the parents of five sons and five daughters. He settled on the top of the Blue Mountain, on what is known as Wertham’s Road, and the tract of land he occupied is still known among the old people as “the Scheirer lot.” He rests in an unknown grave in the old cemetery at New Tripoli. The following is a copy of a paper held by our subject, certifying to the good character of this ancestor:

Hans Scheirer, German text

The translation of the above is as follows:
“Hans Scheirer, of Bargen, has requested me to give him emigration papers, as he wants to leave this country to try his luck elsewhere, which request I hereby comply with, and therefore certify that Hans Scheirer, born in the county of Arberg, of Christian parents, was baptized in a Christian congregation. He has often taken part in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, and, as far as I know, has led a Christian (upright) life. To certify this I hereby sign my own name.

“Gabriel Strohler.”

“March 1, 1725.”

John Karl, son of Hans, was born August 24, 1749, and March 14, 1775, married Filbina Weida. They settled in Rockland, Berks County, Pa., and became the parents of nine sons and four daughters. Their son Charles was born July 21, 1793, and on Christmas Day, 1818, married Catharine Hensinger. For a time they lived upon his father’s homestead, but afterwards removed to Lowhill Township, Lehigh County. He was buried in the old graveyard of the Union Church. His family consisted of nine sons and four daughters, of whom seven are yet living, namely: Reuben, Nathan, Daniel, David, Benjamin, James and Elizabeth.

Charles, father of our subject, was born September 27, 1831, and in youth learned the carpenter’s trade. November 19, 1848, he married Catharine, daughter of Jacob Peter, with whom he lived happily until his death, twenty-three years ago. He passed away on the homestead at Whitehall Station, still owned by, his wife, and his remains were interred in the cemetery at Egypt. His family consisted of two sons and eight daughters, of whom four died in infancy. Those living are: Anna Maria, who is the wife of David Kline Apgar; Catharine Isabella, who married Alfred P. Haff; Amanda Manetta, Mrs. George M. Horlacher; Cora Lillie, wife of Nathaniel P. Smith; Charles Oliver, who married Mary, daughter of Tilghman Litzenberger; and our subject.

In Lehigh County, where he was born November 14, 1863, our subject attended the public schools and spent his boyhood years, meantime being employed mostly at farming. In 1882 he was apprenticed to Henry R. Blocker, of Seigfried’s Bridge, to learn the trade of a stonecutter. After serving his time, he worked at different places as journeyman at the trade, his last position being with P. J. A. Binder, of Mauch Chunk, Pa., from whom he is still holding a recommendation certifying to the fact that he is an honest and upright man, as well as an excellent workman.

In the winter of 1886-87 Mr. Scheirer started in business for himself, and the first few headstones sold by him were cut in the stable on the old homestead at Whitehall. In the spring of 1887, through an advertisement in a paper, he was induced to come to Slatington, where he bought the marble shop and stock of George Frederick, adjoining Neff’s Hotel. From the start he has made a success of the stone business. In 1893, his place being too small for his increasing trade, he purchased a piece of ground north of Kern’s mill dam, with a frontage of two hundred and thirty-three feet. Here he erected a shop 52x20, with an engine room attached. The works are equipped with a twenty-five-horse-power steam boiler, a fifteen-horse-power engine, a polishing machine, a rubbing bed, and forge and anvil for sharpening tools, also cutting tools of various descriptions, such as are used by the trade. He gives employment to several men, and manufactures monumental and stone work of every description. He also has the benefit of a siding, which enables him to unload the stone from the car into his yard. In 1894 he received eight carloads of blue stone for paving and building purposes, two carloads of marble, and four carloads of granite for monumental purposes. He also received additional material in smaller quantities.

July 4, 1887, Mr. Scheirer married Sarah Margaret, daughter of John H. Stofflet, and a native of Lehigh County. They are the parents of three children, Jesse Laurence, Claude Allen and Esther Mabel. Mr. and Mrs. Scheirer are members of St. John’s Reformed Church of Slatington, Rev. N. F. Peters, pastor, and take an active part in the work of the church, he being a member of the Consistory, as Deacon and Treasurer. Socially he is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and Lodge No. 440, F. & A. M. In politics the entire Scheirer family are Democrats, with the exception of our subject, who is a stanch Republican, owing to the fact that he favors protection and is an advocate of high tariff on all imported monuments. He is the owner of a comfortable residence in Slatington, and with his wife occupies a high place in social circles.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the book, Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company. 

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